The four years voyages of capt. George Roberts. Written by himself [really by D. Defoe].

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f WILLIAM LEACH.5

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6000810697

K

• 4^

4

The Four. Years

VOYAGES

O F

C^p^George Roberts;

BEING A

SERIES of Uncommon EYEl^rS,

Which befell him

In a Voyage to thclflandsofthe Canaries, Cape de
Verde, and Barb adoes, from whence he was bound
to the Coafl of Guiney.

The Manner of his being taken by Three Pyrate Ships,
commanded by Low, Rufell, and Sfriggs, who, after hav-
ing plundered him, and detained him^ lo Days, put him
aboard his own Sloop, without Provifions, Water, &c.
and with only two Boys, one of Eighteen, and the other
of Eight Years of Age.

The Hardfhips he endur'd for above 20 Days, 'till he arriv'di
at the Ifland of St. Nicholas, from whence he was blown
off to Sea (before he could get any Suftenance) without
his Boat and biggeft Boy, whom he had fent aihore ; and
after Four Days of Difficulty and Diftrefs, was Ship-
wreck'd on the Unfrequented Ifland of St. Johtty where,
after he had remained near two Years, he built a Vefiel
to bring himfelf ofF.

With a particular and curious Defcription and Draught of
th^ Cape deVerd l^viAs*^ their Roads, Anchoring Places,
Nature and Production of the Soils ; The Kindnefs and
Hofpitality of the Natives to Strangers, their Religion,
Manners, G«j|prmd| and Superftitions, &c.

Together with Obfervations on the Minerals, Mineial Waters, Metals, and
Salts, aiipf the Nitre with which fome of thefeDlands abound.

•WR^ITTEN BY HIMSELF,

And interfpers'd with many Pleafant and Profitable Remarks, very inftru-
6tive for all thofe who life this Trade, or who may have the Misfortune
to meet with any of the like Diftref&s either by Pyracy or Shipwreck.

Adorn'd with feveral COPPER PLATES.

LO NT^ N:

Printed for A. Bettesworth, at the Red Lyon^ in

- fPater-NgJier-Row, knd J. Osborn, at the Sfcif, at

& Jifviour's 2)ock'Eeadi near Hor[€ly-1)Qixn^ ili6i

^ Jh-

sf ~v

V-taf

■^.

J

«*<•

To my ffighly Efteemed pRiENb

WILLIAM KILLET,

O F

GORLESrOWN in the County
of SUFFOLK, Gent.

Worthy SIR,

INGRATITUDE is ly fi
much the more Criminal, as
it lies in emery Man's Vcfwer,
to he, at leap. Thankful for
Benefits receiv'd, if he has not thi
^ower to return them.

The unmerited Obligations you have
laid me under, require my mop grateful
jicknowledgments ; and it is becaufe I
defpair of ever having the Opportunity
to return them in Kind, that I lay hold
of this Oaajion, in a Vuhlick Manner,
io exprefs my Gratitude : And as I know,
A i tlsat

^-*i "^.^rhv'J Re*

,. > • V c:.;-'.\ s^ i\is this
';. .-.-.Y^ ci^c> ^;> ^,:!l I can

.^ . : V '.:t:vns jj Others j

X. . . * , . A.-ic //«; Reajon to

. . .: -.^.t i it'jtr.-^ ihff more Cau^^

^ ^ .\ > ii* * V by: 41 itKefsofthe

J .>.....;• r^X^.tJ^'.re the World may
- ., .: x^M^rAi :tmy'F€rfo77al Mh*
• -.o ..'ii.> . uKY,i:i:!reSy at Jeajt^ I bopCy
^/\uf:/>noi: if the Cape dc \'erd
i.^Js^ t\ir ^IroiUiity Mamifa6iiire5y
. *;,,T -'V (/ L(e to 7iiy Cottntrxmeu
\h»ji tbitb<r ; And J f&'ijh I had kad

The DEDICATION.

papaeityj as well as Opportunity, to fir u*
tinize more exa£ily than I was able to do^
into the Salts, Mmerals, ^c, of the fifoef
fdl Iflands : But as I was far from thinh'
ing to ifpear in ^rint {that being owing
to a tedious Fit ofSicknefi, which incor
pacitated me for any thing elfe) fo had I
taken no Notes but what were in confufed
Scraps of Taper, having no Book to Vf-
gijter them regularly 5 To which MisfoT'
tune is owing a great deal of that indi'
gejled form in which this Treatifi ap^
pears. Ha^ I thought ofpuhlijhing my Ad"
fventures, 1 had, doubtlejfs, been more curi^
ous and exa£i 5 but my Friends would per'
fuade me, that I had experienced a jiiffi''
dent Variety of uncommon Events topleafi
the Curious World, and to afford Matter
of Inftru£iion for Mariners obliged to fail
to thofe Tarts ^ and, as If aid, my IIU
nefs contributing Leifure to their Tern
fuafions, I gave into it ^ and commencd,
pefhaps, no' lefs to your Surpriz^e, than
my own, an Author.

Tou, Sir, will have the Goodnefi to eX"
. ifufe all Defers, and I hope the World will
not have Jo much lU^ature, as to cenfure
. tb©

***'■

The DEDICATION.

4he ^trfovmance of a ^erfon twhofe Pro*
fifflon and Opportuntties have not given
43m tbofe Aavantages fwhicb others may
ioaji 5 hut that they willy on the Score of
fTruth and Faithfulne/s, pardon the In'
fJegance, Sec. ofthisunpoliJh'dEjfay. It
is fnyfirp Produ£iion of this Kind, and
'tis very likely may he the la fit, Andean"
not give me, come what will, any great
^iJfatisfaBion, Jtnce, at the farm Time,
it affords me the Pleajure of acknowledg'
ing your Favours, and to ajfure yo^, I hat
itjball always he my Players, that God
will, for many Tears, continue p you th0
Blejings you at prejent enjoy^: and, ^
length, tranjlate you to Everlajltng Hap^
pinefs. Be pleafed, dear Sir, kindly ta
accept thefejincere Wijhes, from

Your AfFe<5tionate Friend, and

Obliged Humble Servant^

• «

July nth*
1726,

George Roberts^

: •

1

1

f

I

4

1
I

*■

DKA UGHT

cf all III,

de VerH Iflaiuls,

h, ihr TIain Ckart .

C •!

VOYAGE

T O T H E

Cape de Ferd Iflands, ©"c.

[IN the Year of our Lord 1721, on
I the 14th Day of Sepember, I made
I a ContraA *ith Mr. Dermis La?3g-
ton. Merchant artd Goldfinith, liv-
ing at the iVbeatJheaf in Lombard-
fireet, Mr. U^tHiam Ady^ Packer,
living in the Houfe that was Sheriff Cl!r«(/&'s
near Blackwell-Hatl-Gate, and Captain Andreia
Scott, living then oti Little ^ower-Hill, to go to
Virgiata^ and take Pofleffibn of a Sloop there
call d the Dolphin ; and there to buy a Cargo to
flave with on the Coaft of Guinea ; and from
thence to proceed to Virginia or Barhadoes, as I
found would be moft to the Gentlemens Advan*
tage who were concern^ with me ; from thence
to load or take Freight to London : To which the
before-mentioned Gentlemen fign'd an Obligation
fcr the Payment of their Dividcnds,both for Sloop

and Cargo 5 and by their Order I ftiipp'd a Clii-
rurgc on to go from London to Virginia for hatf
Pay, and from thence to be in whole Pay 'till ar-
ri\ted in the fbames. Captain Andrew Scott at
the fame time being Commander of the King So*
gwmjre, a Ship of twenty two Guns, and bound
ftoat the Thames J to touch at the liland of Ma^
deray at the Cape de Verd Iflands, at the Ifland
of Barbadoesy from thence to Virginia^ and from
Virginia J upon the Coaft of Guinea^ &c. And I
agreed with Captain Scotty by Confent of the
ocher Owners, who were to be concerned witb
ne in the above-mentioned Sloop and Cargo,
to go his Chief Mate in the King Sagamore ^
till we arrived at Virginia^ and then and there
to be dilcharged, to t:S:e Pofleffion of the before-
mentioned Sloop y and accordingly I went on
Boards as alio my Chirurgeon, for whofe Paflage
I conrraAcd to Virginia , alio the Cheft of Me-
dicines was put on Board by the afore-mention'd
Gentlemen, to be delivered to me at our Arri-
val in Virginia. We piDceeded on our Voyage
according to Appointment, but in the Channel
meeting "with contrary Winds, we were obligM
to put into Plyntoatby a very commodious Har-
bour for Shipping, lying in the County of D^-
•ypw, where we were forc'd to lie for a fair Wind
near two Months. We happen^ to be there at
that time when my Lord Belbaven was going
Governor to Barbaaoes in the Royal Anne Galley
Man of War , who put into this Port a few
Days after us ; and the Wind fhortly afterprefent-
ing fair, tho* the Weather look'd very unftttled,
and the Wind not like to ftand, the Man ot
War in which his Lordfhip was, failed, and
had not been long out before they met with hard
anjl contrary Gales of Wind, which (as was liip-
pofed by the Rafhneis of their Lieutenant) oc-

cafioud

til

cafioned that lad Tragedy of their Lives whici)
is not unknown to moft People in England. Cag^
tain Scott was inclinable to fail at the fame tkhe
that the Man of War did, but I perfwaded him
to wait a little till he faw the Wind and Weather
better fettled, at leaft, not to go out now it was
almoft Night, and would be Night before we
could have got the Ship unmoorM ; and, as I told
him, if the Wind continued till next Mom-
ii^, then in God's Name to proceed ; which Ad-
vice Captain Scott took, and the more willing,
becaufe he had given Orders the Day before, to
kill fome Beef tor the Voyage, which we could
not have till the next Day, which proving but
nntowaM Weather, as well as a foul Wind, obli-
ged us to lie there near a Month after my
Lord Belhaven fail'd out in the Man of War j
during which time we heard from Falmoutby that
my Lord and almoft all the Souls that were in
the Man of War, were caft awa^ on the Stagg
Rocks off the Lizard. After we had lain Wind-
bound a confiderable time, it pleafed God to fend
moderate Weather, with an indifferent fair WincL
which Opportunity thus offered, we laid hold of^
and faiPd , and met with nothing worth no-^
ting, ^till we arrived near the Latitude of Md^
dera^ at which time Captain Scott altering his
Mind, or, at leaft, it was the firft Difcovcry of
the altering of his Mind or Owners Orders, he
would not touch at Madera^ but refolvM to touch
at the Ifland of feneriff^ it being one of the Ca^
nary Iflands, and indeed, for Traffick the beft
of them ; which accordingly we did, and an-
chored in the Road of Oratava^ where Captain
Scott baner'd fome Goods for Wine. We
were forced out of the Roads by reafon of a
Nortb'IVeft Wind coming, which all Ships there,
when thofe Winds come, are obliged to do. We

[4:1

jflipp'^d our Moorings, and put to Sea, leaving
Captain Scott afliore on the Ifland, as often hap-*
pens to jCammanders of Ships who trade there ;
for there is no fending the Boat for them, nor
waiting for them to come off, for as foon as ever
a North-ITeJi is perceived, which moft times is
fore-fhewed by a Nortb^lVefi Swell rouling in,
they are oblig d to flip their Moorings, for which
Keafon they have always Ship-Buoys ready bent :
Seldom, or never, any Ships that are forc'd from
thence by thefe Winds, ftay to take up their An-
chors, for if they fliould, they might run a great
Hazard of lofing the Ship and their Lives too.
But that Nortb'lVeJi that forced us out, did not
prove fo bad as we expeded ; fo that the fecond.
Day after we flipped our Cables, we got into the
Koad, and took in our Moorings again > and as
ibon as we got our Wihe in, which was ^bout
forty Pipes, we failed, having been about ten
l)ays at this Ifland ^ and altho' there are man]
Things remarkable about and on this Iflan<'
not vulgarly known, which might be Matter ol
Profit as well as Delight to know, (among which

• may be ranked the great Coral-Tree, which,
perhaps, is the largeft of that Kind yet known
m the World ^ alio the Gold Mine within Point
de NagoSy on account of which a poor Man, be-i
ing more hafty to get rich than his Neighbours,
was taken on one of thofe golden Mountains,
with fuch Tools or Inftruments about him, as
plainly fhew'd what he had been a hunting for ;
they found alfo fome Gold about him, for which
they hanged him but a few Days before we ar-
rived here ^ ) yet by reafon it is an Ifland pretty
much reforted to by our Shipping, I ftiall wave
giving any further Defer iption of it, (only that

» on thefe Iflands is made the moft generous W^"^
that is made, I think, in the Univerfe) and left

in .

I ftiould feem to fbme (as the Proverb goes) to
light a Candle to fee the Day, I fhall proceed on
5n my Narration of our farther Proceedings.
We failed from the Ifland of ^eneriff in the Even-
ing with a light Gale of Wind about the North--
Eaft and by Nortb^ but after we had got an
Offing firom the Ifland, the Galefreflicn'd up and
continued, we had Sight of the Pike of ieneriff
([which is a high peeked Mountain, by fbme fup-
pofed to be the highefl Mountain in the World)
all the next Dav, till Night , and altho' we then
rccfkonM <5urfelves to be little ^lefs than forty
Leagues diflant fi'om the Pike, yet we could fee
it very plain. We met with nothing very re-
markable all the Paflage, 'till we made the Ifland
of Sal^ which is one of the Windwardmofl of
the C%e de Verd Iflands, for which Reafbn I
alwaysendeavour'd to make that Ifland firfl, ^en
bound to touch at any of the Gipe de Verd
Iflands : We made this Ifland of Sal in the
Morning, and I, by the Captain's Order, went
afliore with the Pinnace and fix Men arm'd, in a
Bay caird Palmer a^ to fee what we could obferve :
At our Landing, we found fbme Huts, which were
in good Repair, and feem'd by the Grafs which
was in them, that fbme People had lately been
there, which made me fufped: that there might
be fbme Turtle-catchers here fince the lafl Tur*
tie Seafbn, or they might be Men fliipwreck'd,
or by other Accid&its left there, as by Pirates,
&c. After I had gone a little farther towards
the Palm-Trees, I faw two Fire-Places, which,
by the Freflinefs of the Aflies, feem'd to have
been but lately made 9 and fbme rfeaps of Fifli-
Bones lying by the Fire-Places, which were not
thoroughly dry 5 the under Part of them, as alio
the Middle of the Heap being moift, which I
t»m*d up on Purpofc j thefe Keafons, \ fay, fer*

B 3 >3»t

CO*

^er confirmed my Opinion that there were fbmc
People upon the Ifland, the Certainty of which
I was willing to be iatisfied in ^ for which Cauie
I divided mv Men into two Companies, refolvr
ing, if poffiole, to difcover whether there was
any People on the Ifland, or not : We walk'd
and fearch'd as high up as the Middle of the
Ifland, without difcovering any Creature of hur-
inane Kind ^ we faw abundance of fmall Land
Birds, Afles, ^c. And Captain Scott fearing that
Jbme Accident might have befallen us, made a
Signal for us to come on Board, which I did a$
Jbon as I could get the Men together. We got on
Board about Eight a Clock at Night, and
brought off with us fome Land-Crabs, Dates,
and three or four of the wild bitter Gourds,
whereof there is great Plenty there ; (with
which the Natives in thofe Iflands commonly
purge themfelves , as we do here , under the
Name of Coloquintidum or Albandat) thefe were
all we found there that was remarkable, at this
Time. As foon as we came on Board, and got
the Boat in, we made Sail for the Ifland of Bond
Vfftj it being the Iflapd refolv'd upon to make a
Cargo of Salt, and the next Day we arrived at
Bona Vifty and anchored in the EngUjh Road, as
they call it, under the little Ifland, about ten a
Clock at Night, in about five Fathom Water,
clear fandy Ground within the fiinken Rock.
: Next Day I went alhore with Captain Scott ^ to
agree with the Inhabitants for their AlEftance to
bring the Salt from the Salt-Ponds down to the
Water-fide ^ as alfo to ftttle the Prizes of our
Goods, and alfo of their Horfes, AlTes, ^c for
we were to take in Horfes and Afles after we had
got our Salt on Board. Captain Scott being an
utter Stranger to all thefe Iflands, as well as the Ca^
^^r^ Iflands^ both as to their Language and Trade,

- en

Men think if they can but, get their Ship loaden,
that's enough. Sometimes when a Ship's Com-
pany is but few, the Matters arc forc'd to hire
feme of the Natives to work in the Salt-Ponds
while the Salt is making, and alfp to work in the
fliipping the Salt off I advifed Captain Scott, as
he had brought but little Hay with him out of
England foe his live Cargo, to get the Blacks to
bring feme down every Day while we were ma-
king the Salt 5 but he depended on the Blacks
Words, who told hipi, they would fupply him
with Hay enough in one Day, for his Voyage,
which made him think it needleft to provide
Hav bejfbre-hand, tho' I knew to the contrary,
as naving experienced them before ^ but yet.
Captain Scott ^depended on their Words, which
in the End had like to have been the Lofi of all
our live CargQ ; and as it was, it fpoil'd the Sale
of them at Bmiadoes, as you will find in the Se-
oucl of the Story. No Ship being here but our-
lelves, we had all the Salt-Ponds, to pick and
chufe the bcft, and had but little Trouble to
make our Salt, to what it is fbmetimes, as I have
ftcn when Ships have been forced to wait three
Weeks or a Month* for a Birth, to make Salt in
^c Ponds- and then be forcM to take up with,
perhaps, luch ordinary Ponds, that ten or a do-
ze^ Ponds in that poor Ground might not yield
much more than one or two Ponds would yield
where it is a rich Salt Soil , and yet have as
much Labour, in a manner, with thofe Ponds,
as you would have in tending the beft Ponds ;
but we in the making our Cargo, had little more
to do but to rake the Salt out of the Ponds, ind
wheel it out to the Heap. While we lay here,
came in a Sloop belonging to Philadelphia, but
laft jfrom Santa Cruz, on the Ifland of Tenerifj
and bound to Jamaica j he hinder'd us almoft a

Day's

Day^s Work ; for we not knowing tut it might
be a Pirate, got all our Hands on Board, and
fe kept oiu&i^ in Readinefs to receive him, 'till
he fent l^is Boat on Board, which we commanded,
and fati^fied us what he was. Now Captain Scott
having bought more AfTcs by far than he could
ftow on Board, and it being all in the Sloop's
Way, they agreed, that the Sloop (hould take in
as many Afles as (he could ftow, at fb much per
Head, to be delivered at Barbadoes. After we
got our Salt all on Board, we took in Horfei and
Afles, as many as we could ftow, aijd alio pu(
as many Afles on Board the Sloop as (he coul4
ftow J after which, we were fbrc'd to flay twenty*-
fbur Hours for Grafs and Hay, and then nei-
ther, we could not get half enough for the Voy-
age 'y but our Water alfb being almoft expended^
we could tarry no longer ; for you mufl know^
that the Ifland of Bona Vifi has no drinking Wa-r*
rer but what lies a long Way up in the Country,
and thofe Ships that come there only to make
Salt 5 muft bring frcfh Water enough with then^
to ferve while they are making and fhipping off
their Salt, or they muft pay dear for that Water
that muft be brought down out of the Country
by the Natives, on Afles Backs ^ but thofe that
^ome here to buy Cattle, if they do not bring
Water with them, it is next kin to an Impoffibin
lity, at leaft, it would be fb chargeable, as well as
tedious, to have their Water brought out of the
Country, that it would coft more than the Be^fls ;
neither could you ever get a Stock of Water this
Way, for your Cattle wOuld drink it, in a man-
ner, as faft as it could be brought down. So ha-
ving got in all that we could get, wc and the
Sloop fail'd in Company together, and touched at

the Iflc of May^ where wc met With five Sail of

ghips

Chips loading there with Salt for the -B^^-Coun-
try, up the Baltick Sea, among whom we got
fome Water, and alfb Tobacco", the Want of
which had aknoft brought a fTeJi'Country Famine
on us, as the Sailors ufed to term it. W^ took
in fix Caws to carry down to St. JagOj ^d'one
5vas given to Captain Scott for Freight. We ftay'd
ione Night at the Ifle of May^ and the next Morn-
ing wcigh'd for St. Jago^ which was the Place
we defign'd to take in Water, IJay, and Wood
fer the Voyage, the Sloop alio being in our Com-
pany. Captain Scott being ambitious to keep a-
head of the Sloop, who went very well, as did
we in the Ship alfb, crouded all his imall Sails,
and would not (horten Sail before we came the
Length of the Port of Villa de Praya^ and it
blowing a frefli Gale of Wind, and generally 6S
the high Land, and in the Bay there comes off
very hard Flaws of Wind ^ fo that ftanding with
all our Sail out 'till wc brought the Bay open,
before we could hand our fmall Sails, and take a
Reef in each Top-fail, to Luff into the Bay, we
were drove to Leeward of the Road, ^nd it
holding fiich taut Gales, and our Decks being
clutterM with the Cattle, that we could not work
the Ship io well as we otherwife might, it was
three Days before we could get into the Road ;
in which Time feveral of our Affe^ died, and the
refl were fo difpirited, that they never recovered
during the Voyage. The Sloop got into Villa
de Praya the Evening after we came from the Ifl«
of ikfey, and by the Time that we got into the
Bay, he had got all his Water on Board for the
Voyage : As foon as we got in, and were moor'd.
Captain Scott went on Snore to buy Hay and
Wood, and to work we went with all our Boats
to Water. After we had watered, wooded, and
got as much Hay, green Cocoa*Nuts, ^c. for the

. Cattle

C •« 3

Cattle, as could be gotten, we unmoored and
weighed from thence with the Sloop in Com-
pany, and fteercd away for the Ifland ofBarbadoesj
meeting with little remarkable in our Faflage
down, Civing that we met with a dead Whale about 9
the middle of the Paflage, having an innumera-
ble Quantity of Fowls about it, notwithftanding it
could not be lefs than 3ooLeaguesfrom any Land*
We had moftly light Winds all the Paflage
down till we arrived at the Ifland of Barbadoes^
which was on the latter Part of Marcb^ in the
Year 1722. The firfl: we did was to get our live
Cargo out, which we did as fbon as we had Li-
berty from the Governor and Cuftom-houfe, but
both Horles and Aijes were fb weak and poor,
that none of the Horles, and very few of the Afles,
were fold while we lay here • lb that if a Coun-
try Genleman had not given Captain Scott the feed-
ing of his Horfes and AflTcs in the Country gratis ^
after he faw he could not fell them, the cheapefl:
way would have been to have knocked them all
on the Head, for they would have coft more to
have put them in a Market Cafe than they would
fell for : And likewife the Wine did not go off ve-
ry well ; for the Inhabitants of this Ifland, as
likewife all our Iflands in the IVeft^Indies^ being «
for the mofl: part ufed to Madera Wine, they
did not feem to like fo well our Canary Wine ;
nay, moft of them were afraid to buy it, think-
ing it was not good, becaufe different in Flavour
from that of the Ifland of Madera^ their accul-
tomed Wine, though the Wine which we brought,
as it coft almoft double the Price which Wine com-
monly cofts mMadera^ fo it was of twice the Good-
Jiels of any Wine commonly brought from that
Ifland, tho' it rather fold here under the Price of
conunon Madera Wine. Thefe Difappointments
in the Cattle, Wine, ^c. and fome other Rec^
£yns which lihall ibrtw^ar mentioning Vvwt^m^^^

r 'O

tain Scott entirely decline, and" fully refblve of
not proceeding to Viryrinia^ notwitnftanding the
Scheme of the Voyage was to have proceeded
there diredfcly from Barbadocs^ as alfo were his Or-
ders and lnftru6kions from his- Owners ; however,
relblved he was not to go to Virginia^ but to con-
trive or lay a Scheme to proceed fbme other Way,
"whidi new Refolutions of his, did not only fur-
prize me at the prefent, but likewife diflatisfiedme
very much, and I could not refblve .with my felf
whatCourfeto take in this unexpededDifappoint-
ment 5 but it being in vain to fit unrefblved what
to do, I at lafl fix d my Refblution, which was
thus ^ To make up my Account with Captain
Scott ^ and caufehinito pay me theBallance, andfb
to return home to give the Gentlemen an Account
how finely they and I were deluded, they by ha-
ving fiich a Partner concerned with them, and I
by having fiich an Owner as Captain Scott was.
Now you muft know that I had lent Captain Scott
ibme Money at feveral Times before our Departure
from London^ t6 be repay*d me at our Arrival at
Virginia^ which, with the Wages that were due to
me onboard the King Sagamore^ came to near Nine-
ty Pounds, which I demanded of him 5 on which
his Anfwer to me was. That he could not raifc
that Money at prefent, by reafbrf he could not
difpofe of his Efied^s, but if I thought well of
it, he WOUI4 buy ^ Sloop in his own Name, for
which ' he could have Credit on his Bfleds till
they were fold, and would make a Bill of Sale
to me, to hold a Part in the Sloop proportionable
to the Debt ; and I confidering how difficult it
would be for mc to recover my Money of him
there, if not impofBble, refblv u to accept pf hi«
OfKr 'y for tho' he was reputed at London to have
confiderable E&AsinMarylandj yet when I came
fo Barbadoes^ I underfibood by u^e Mailers of

Vd&U

[ 'J ]

Veflels that came from, and belonged to the Place
where he pretended his Effeds lay, that he was
lb &T from having any Effeds there, that it was
the Reverie y for they believed that he was fbmuch
in Debt there, that jthey thought for that Reafbn
he did net much care to come there ; wherefore I
was after a fort, as it were^ neceiEtatol to accept of
his Propofals, for fear 'of^ entirely loiing my Mo-
ney y tho' I believe I had obliged my Friends more^
and eipecially thofe Gentlemen who were to be
concerned with me, had we proceeded to Virginiaj
and I am furedone my fclf more Service to have
run the Hazard of loiing my Money, and come
h(Mne I as the Sequel hath fully made manifeft.

Accordingly we pitched upon a Sloop that was
to be fold there 3 1 forget the Gentleman's Name
at prefent that own'd hdr, neither is it much ma«*
terial. She was then call'd the Margaret^ and the
then Matter's Name was jilex under K/ber^ flie was
about 60 Tun of Cask, indifferently well found
for thofe Parts, and by the Regifter (he was be-
tween 4 and 5 Years old, and was an extraordi-
nary Penny-worth. I was difcHarg'd by Captain
Scott firom the King Sagamore April the 24th,
1722, and the fame Day took Pofleffion of the
Sloop 5 and being obliged to regifler her anew,
the old Regifter Certificate being pretty much torn,
and the Property now altered, accordingly a new
Regifter Certificate was taken out in Captain Scott^%
Name, andalfb thatof Mr. George John fon^ a Mer-
chant who then lived at Barbadoes; after which,
I (hipped Hands and began to get things ready
as faft as I could ; but found Captain Scott very
backward to fiimifli nve with Money towards the
fitting of her out, or for a Cargo 5 however I
made (hift to rub along, and what I could not have
of Captain Scott j I pieced out with the little Mo-
ney I railed there. I often asked him to come

[<4]

to an Account) ' that We might fettle our Affairs j
but he ftiil put me off from time to time with one
Excufe or another : However we concluded and
agreed uponthe Voyage which was for me to go to
Guinea^ and thence to the Cape de Verd Iflands
to trade, or only to the Cap de Verd Iflands, as I
thought proper i but the Cargo was all that re-
mained in Difpute: However Captain Scott^ did
put in a fmall Quota namely 30 Buflielsof Maizj
4 Hogfheads of Rum, and then he fell fick, and got
up in the Country : However I made fliift as well
as I could, and had fbme Corn, Rice, Flower, ^c.
put on board of me by fbme Gentlemen who»
rather than I Ihould be baulkM, were refblved to
venture with me; and I was to make them fuch
Returns, if I fucceeded, as I thought might be
reafbnable. I likewife purchafed what Rum I was
able, as alfb Sugar, Tobacco, ^c. and in fhort,
one way or another, I got together a pretty Car-
go, fufficient to .haveanfwered my Defign, if it
had pleafed God that I had efcaped the Pirates^ as
* in the Sequel of the Story you fliall hear.

By this time Captain Scoffs Ship was ready for
failing, and he underftanding what Goods I had on
board, offered to barter fbme of his Goods that
would anfwer at the Canaries ^in lieu of fbme of my
Goods which would anfwer where he was intend-
ed to go ; provided I wdbld alter my Voyage and
go to the Canaries^ which I did not approve of^
and fb there was no more faid on that Head. We
were both ready to fail, and I urged him to come
to an Account, which he faid was then impoffible ;
but as we had agreed to keep Company together
till we came in the Latitude of the Cape de Verd
Iflands, fb we fliould have time enough to fettle
before we parted; and abundance of fuch 'like
Difcourfes : Belideshe&id, he could not yet hold
a Fen in his Hand by means of his late Sicknefs.

Uavins

m that Squall, which continued *till duskifli. We
were then got Clear of the Iflands, and Captain
Scott ^ as I iuppofe, concluded that he wa^ deaf
of the Pirates, which we had had an Account of
at Barhadoes 5 which, with ibme other Reafons,
I believe, might be the Caufe why he did not
Ihorten Sail for me when my Main-mil fplit, but
made the beft of his Way 5 neither was I much
concerned then, not doubting but I fhould meet
with him at fome of the Cape de Verd Iflands,
where he defign'd to Trade, and, as I lupposM,
might be another Reafbn of his making the befl:
of his Way to .get to the Iflands before me ; for
he knew tlrat.I had Goods in for thefe Iflands, tho^
my Defign-was, if Winds and Weather permit-
ted, to touch on the Windward Part of the Coaft
of Guinea^ about the. Kio^ Grande ^ before I came
to the Iflands, and did not much doubt but to
have been at the Iflands time enough to have
done my Bufinefs with Captain Scott before he
left the Iflands ^ my Sloop failing much better
than his Ship, efpecially on a Wind, which, in
croffing the Trade, is a great Advantage : But
my lUnefs encrealed after I came out to Sea,
which was contrary to what I expected, as well
as to the Opinion of the Dodors ; infbmuch^
that after ffaruggling with it as much and as long
as I could, I was at lafl forced to keep my Bed
ten Days with a Fever, accompanied with excefl
five cold, clanmiy Sweats, with Paintings i after
which, growing better, as foon as I was able to
keep an Account of the Veflers Way, I demand-*
ed of my Mate the Latitude and Longitude we
we were got into by his Account, which he gave
me ^ which, upon Pefufal, made me conjedure
that we were not got fo fer to the Eaftward as
his Account made o^t ; wherefore I required his
• Lqg»BooIc» to fee how &r that might agree with

[

f Ms general Account , for fbntietimes the beft of'
1 Men may make a Miftake, either in tranfcribing
their Day's Work, by milplacingof a Figure, or
even by an Error of Miftake in the Working j
all thefe Miftakes a Man jnay be overtaken with,
and any one of them may lead one fofer out of the
Truth, as may not only be a Diiappointment to
his Expedation, but of evil Confequence to Ship,
Cargo, and even our very Lives ^ by which it ii
cafy to guefs, how careful and circumfpedt that
Man ought to be^ that takes upon him the
Charge of navigating a Ship at Sea, when (he
onJv mifpiacing of one Figure, may put the Ship
ana Cargo in cknger of I^ing loft, as well as the
Livei of all thofe who at the lame Time are oh'
Board.

I took the Fains . to work every Day's Work ♦
apart, and made .Allowance, as idual, ibr what
I found Diurnally noted in his Logg-Book ^
v/hich although it be not fo exa<% 2Ls a Man could
account for^ were ht Daily to obferve the feverail
Occurrence^ as they then happen, and allow for,
and rectify according to his Judgment, while they
are frelh in Mind ; yet it is fomething more fatis-
fadory, than to take a general and fummed up
Account J as any Man who has had the Expe-
rience of keeping an Account of a Sliip^s Way^
can eafily perceive : There were about 14 Leagues
Difference between what I ma4e out, as I took it
out of his Ldgg-Book, and the general Accoimt
he firft gave me, he being fo much to the Eaft-
ward or what he made out by his Logg-Book i
which farther confirmed me in my Opinion, that
we were not fo far to the Eaftward, as he reekon'd
we were.

We had light Gales^^ and fometimes Calmy,
after we were got to the Northward of the Trader,
Irith heavy Showers of Rain, which is ufual ^

C ^^^^

[ '8 ]

tiiat Time of the Year in thefe Latitudes ; we
ftood as far to the Northward as 3 1 Degrees of
Latitude, and then I bent my Gourfe Souther-
ly, and to the Eaftward withal, till we got into
tne Trade again : My Sufpicion, as I obferv'd to
you before, that we were not fo far to the Eaft-
ward as our Reckoning made us, cauied me to run
about 80 Leagues to the Eafltward of the Me-
ridian of the Iflands, before I came into the
Latitude of them, and the Winds after we got
into the Trade, holding from the Eaft to the
Eaft-South-Eaft, I could not poffibly, without
lofing a great deal of Time, get hold of the
Coaft of Guiney^ fo far to windward as I had at
firft refolved ; therefore, I concluded to run di-
redWy for the Cape de Verd Iflands, and defign-^
ing to make the Ifle of Sal firft, it being the
Windwardmoft of the Cape de Verd Iflands, I
ftretched to the Southward till 1 got into the
Latitude of it, and then, by our Account, we
were between 60 and 70 Leagues to the Eaft-
ward of it 5 but my Mate was very pofitive, that
the Veflel was confiderably farther to the Eaft-
ward than our Reckoning made Her. After we
were in the Latitude, I run down Weft by Day^.
and lay to by Night ; for though I had a good
Obfervation two or three Times every 24 Hours'
by the Starsj and fometimes a Meridian Obfer-
vation by tlie Sun, yet I would not venture ta
run in the Night, for fear of miffing the Ifland,
by reafon the Weather was fometimes hazy^
fometimcs overcaft, and a taut Gale of Wind
firom the Eaft-South-Eaft, to the South-Eaft,
and South-South-Eaft. I run down about 100
Leagues Weft, without making any of the Iflands ;
and then concluding, as good Reafon I had, that
we were to the Welhvard of the Iflands, I had
no other Remedy left, but to ftand to the North-
ward

» . ■ ■ » .

ward again, till out of the Trade, to get into i
yariabJe Wind's way, and fo to get to the Eaft-
ward, and that Way to gain the Iflands ; for the
Time of the Rains being almoft come, I did
hot much care then for touching on the Coaft of
Guiney^ as I had before propoled ; fo made the
beft of my Way for the Iflands, which by the Ig-
norance or Carelef heft, or both, of my Mate, we
had mifltd. I ftood to the Northward with a
very hard Gale of Wind at S6uth-South-Eaft,=
with Rain and a very deep hollow Sea, which
hcW for about four Days ; after which the Wea-
ther being more moderate, I ftood to 31 Degrees
JO Minutes of North Latitude, and then run my
Eafting out, and fo bent my Courfe to the South-
ivard, till we got into the Latitude of the Ifle of
Sal again, widioiit meeting with any Thing
worth noting hcf c : I then bore away Weft till
we made the Ifland, and it being green Trutle
Seafon, I ftretchcd in, and anchored in a Road
under the Weft-fide of the Ifland called P aimer a^
I (uppofe fo called, from the Date-trees growing
there, in the Valley in the Southermoft Bay:
The Road of Palmer a m fome Places is very foul
and rocky, but if you turn up into the Northermoflf
Bay, you may anchor there in three or four
fathom Water, in clear fandy Ground ^ and with-
out that Depth, it is all foul and rocky Ground,
You may likewife anchor in the Southwardmoft:
Bay, in four, five, or fix fathom Water, bring-
ing the Palm-trees Eaft-and-by-North from you •
but without thofe Depths it is uncertain Ground,
in fome Places clear, in others foul.

After we came to an Anchor I font my Boat
aihore, to foe if there were any Signs of the
Turtle landing, or if any People were there ^
Turtling, and if fo, and they had any frefli caught,
to bring one on Board ; for the French oken-

limes come there, to make a Turtle- Voyage, fak-
ing their Turtle on the Shore, and drying it^
much after the fanie Manner as they do Cod at
iJewfoundland^ of which and the Oil, they make
good Markets at theirlflands in the JVefi-hdies ^ they
Kiving the Shell for the French Market, where it
generally yields a better Price than with us in
Englandy efpecially the Shell of that Turtle
caught about thefe Iflands, which is of the thinneft
Sort, and extraordinary clear, as well as finely
clouded ^ beiides, there are ofirentimes found
greater Quantities of Ambergreefe at this Ifland^
than at any of the Cape de Verd Iflands, and were
it not for the \yild Cats that eat it (as aUb does
the green Turtle) there would be much more
found than there is«

In about two Hours after the Boat went afhore,
fhe came off^ and brought a green Turtle which
might weigh, I believe, between Two and Three
hundred Weight, and alfb a Black, being a Native
of St. Nicholases Ifland, who told me, that his
Companions afhore fent me that Turtle which
the Boat brought ofi^ as a Present ^ and that
there were about 60 Perfbns Natives of the Ifland
•of St. Nicholas^ who were brought hither in a
Sloop belonging to a Place^ the Name of which he
could not remember. I ask'd him if he was an
Englijhman ? and he told me Yes ^ fb I named
•feverai Places in Englaftdy but he flili faid No ;
till at lall, among other Places, I named Ber-
mudasj and then he faid he was a Bermudian. I
asked him, If he was fiire of it ? and hefaid Tes^
he was certain that the Mafler told him he be>-
longed to Bermudas^ and that he brought them
from S. Nicholases hither, to catch and cure Turtle,
and that about i o Weeks ago he failed from hence,
and told the Blacks he would go to Bona Pifty
aad take in fbme Salt, and then ftretch over to

St.

f 2. ]

iBt. Nicholas^ to take in fbme Provifions for them,
andpromifed them, without fei], to be with them
in lo Days at fartheft ; but they had heard no-
thing of him fince, and therefore they had given
him over, and believed that he was either loft,
or had altei^'d his Mind, and was gone fome other
Voyage, and offered me half their . Turtle, Oil,
Shell, Ambergreefe, i^c. to cranfport them with
the other half to the Ifland of St. Nicholas. I
told him I was bound down to St. Nicholas^ and
if any of them had a Mind to go, I would give
them their Paflage for nothing ^. but I likewife
told him, I would carry none of the Efk&s off
the Ifland, until I knew the Right of the Matter,
which I fiippofed I might when I arrived at St.
Nicholas^ and according as I found how it was, I
did not know but I might come back again to the
Ifle of Sal. He defiredme to let the Boat put him
afhore, that he might go and tell his G>mpanions,
which accordingly I did, and gave him two Bot-
tles of Rum, and his Hat full of Indian Corn, to
drink and eat with his Companions, when he
came on Shore: He was very thankful; and I
ordered the Boat to put afhore, which accord-

, ingly was done : And in about an Hour's time it
came off again, and brought an Old Man and a
Woman, who begged that i would give them
their PaflTage to St. Nicholas^ adding, that they
had nothing to pay me for it, but the Turtle, Oil,
and Shell which they had made here, and if I
pleafed to accept of that, they v/ould freely give
all t;hat thev had, rather than to ftav here ; for
they feid tney were almoft ftarved, having no-?

thing to eat but the Fifh that they catched. I

told them I would confider of it, and it being al-
moft Night, I font them afhore, alid told them I

would come afhore in the Morning and talk with
them.

C ^ ^^^^

E "]

Next Morning I went aftiore, and they al|
came about n^e that were in the Bay, which were
eight Men and two Women, one of them having
a young Child; for when they began to be out
of hopes of the Sloop's coming again, they fepa-
rated into Companies, and each Cotnpany went
to a feveral Bay, for the greater Conveniency of
living y for were they all to ftay in one Place,
they could not fb well fupply their Wants, all
their Food being then what Fifh they daily
catched. There being, as I obferved before, 1 1
Souls at this Bay of P aimer a^ they begg'd that I
would give them aPaflagc to St. Nicholas^ and they
would give me all their Shell, Oil, and part of
their dry'd Turtle, to carry them and the other
Part ot their dry'd Turtle, to St. Nicholas. I
anfwerM, as the Day before, that I would meddle
with none of the Goods till I had been at St. Ni^
cbolas^ to underftand the Right of the Story ; and
if in cale that the Sloop whi<:h brought them
hither was gone, or had come to any Difafter, a$
it was very likely, we fhould hear Ibmething of it
there, and they need not much fear, but that I
fhould come up again to the Ifle of Sal^ and
cany them down to St. Nicholas y but then I
fhould exped: as they had offered me now ; to wit,
all the Turtle, Oil, Turtle-fhell, and half thedry'd
Turtle. They faid, they were fure every-body
would be very glad to agree to that now, without
givingmyfelf any farther Trouble. ButI notknow-
ing upon what Terms they were fent there, and
what might be the Reafon of the Sloop's tarrying
fo long, and not being willing to difappoint any
Man, not knowing what Charges the Man might?
have be^ at in relation to them, and the little Credit
that is to be given to any Thing that thofe Blacks
^y, made me refcrfve not to meddle with any
Tning till I heard fartjier of the Bufinefs j ,ajad ^

Si ^

Itoldthem, ifany of them wanted to go down to St.
Nicholas^ I would carry them for nothing^ but would
not carry oiFanyoftheEfFe6ls ^ and that I wasre-
fblved to fail that Evening : upon which they told
me, that they (hould not have Time to fend to
their Comrades who were in the other Bays ; but
if Ipleaied to give them their Paflage, and Liberty
to carry a little dryM Turtle with them for Food,
they Ihould be very thankful : Which I granted,
and fo /ix Men and the two Women, and a little
Child, agreed to go, and two Old Menftaycd on
the Ifland, and promifed to fend the reft Word
as fbon as they could, of what had happened,
and the great Likelihood of their good Fortune to
get Home in a fhort Time, &c. I ordered
thofe who defigned to go with me to St. Nicholas^
to get themfelves ready, and alfb to bring the
Turtle they defigned to carry with them for
the Voyage, down to the Water-fide, that it
might be put on board : This they readily com-
ply'd with, and brought down as much as the
Boat could carry at twice, which I ordered on
board, and they would have brought more, but
I would not permit them , So on board I came,
and brought off with me a live green Turtle, which
the Blacks had catched the Night before , and after
Dinner I fent my Boat afliore to bring them ofl^
which they immediately did to the Number of fix
Men, two Women, and a fucking Infant. About
7 a Clock in the Afternoon we weighed from
Palmer a^ and fteer'd away for the Ifland of St. Ni-
4:holas ; and after we got clear from under the Lee
of the Land, which might be about i o a Clock
at Night, we had a pleafant frefh Gale, and by
Day-dawning we were off of the Eaft-Point of the
Ifland of St. Nicholas s but after we got under the
JLee of the Ifland, it being high fteep Land, with
» great mtoy deep Gullies, we met with fuch hard

• ,^ • C4 sq^^u*'

Em3

Squalls of Wind coming down thofe Gullies, that
it was 9 at Night before I could get to an An-
chor ; which I did in a Road at the Weft-End o£-
the Ifland, called Trefall Koad^ in about 6 Fathom
Water.

Next IVIoming the Prieft, who was a Native of*
Portugal^ came down from their Town, and I
lent the Boat afliore for him : Who told me, when
he came on board. That he had lent the Sloop to'
the lile of Sal with the Blacks y and that the
Sloop was all his own, he having bought her from
the Mafter, whole Name was James Peevy living
at Briftol ^ and that he had lent her to the Ifle of
Sal with the Blacks to make Turtle, fome of
which were his own Slaves, the reft being hired,
Ibme at two Dollars, Ibme three, and other fome
at four lioUars per Month y and that all the
Turtle, Oil, Shell, ^c. that they had made, was
intirely his ; and that his Sloop had been here at
St. Nicholas^ fince fhe came laft from the Ifle of
Saly and he had lent her to trade at St. Jago^
and the other Iflands to the Leeward, and that
flie was to be back again in three Weeks or a
Month at fartheft : That it was now almoft 3
Months fince he lent her away, and, therefore,
v/as afraid Ihe was come to fome Accident, or;'
elfe blown off from the Iflands, they. having had
two or three bravadoes fince flie went. He alfo
offered to freight me to the Ifle of *fo/, to bring
off the Effect and Men, the Turtle Seafon being
in a manner over, and their remaining upon that
Ifland, being now only an Expenceto him, without
any farther View of making much more Profit this
Seafon. He added, that he did not much fear his
Sloop's being fafe ^ but as it might poflSbly be
fome time before flie could arrive to tran^ort
his People from the Ifle of aS^Z, he would gladly
agree on ceafonable Terms to freight me thithcti
^^ • and

E»5 3 -

and if not, he muft e'en wait the coming of his
Qwn Sloop. I told him, if I undertook the Mat-
ter, I would not be unreafbnable ; but as yet I
was not refolv'd whether to go to the Ifle oi Saly
or not s but was deligned in the Evening, or the
next Morning, if the Weather proved moderate,
to weigh my Anchor, and turn up into Paragbeefi
Road, and then I would relblve him.

Now the Blacks which I had brought from the
Ifle of Sal told me, that the Ifland of St. Nifbo^
las, as alfb all the Windward Iflands of the (Cape
de Vend, were in^reat Wantof Povifions 3 and that
the Famine had raged fb at this Ifland, in particu-
lar, that \yithin the lafl: 12 Months, there died no
lefs than 500 Souls purely for want of Food, the
Famine having b^en for ftveral Years paft at the
otherWindward Iflands i butaltho' St. Nicbolash^id
groaned under it but one Year, yet it was vifited
thefevereft of all the Iflands during the Time that
it held. Now this was the Reafbn why I re-
folved for Paragbeefi, becaufe it was nigher their
Town, and for the moft part a level Way
(which is very rare in thofe Iflands, they being
generally very fteep and rocky) my Intent being
fo truck or barter away fbme of my Com, Rice,
iSc. with the Inhabitants, in Exchange for G)t-
ton-Cloths (fiich as we trade with on the Coaft
of Gisiney, called by the Portuguefe, and from
them by the Blacks, Barrafoofs^ .lil^^wife for
Ambergreefe, Dragons-blood, Money, £^r.
the Road of ^refall where I lay, not being fo
convenient for Trading, by reafon of its Diftancc
from the Town, which was about 1 6 or 1 8 Miles,
and that being a rocky Way, with very high and
fteep Afcents and Defcents.

The Prieft went aftiore in the Afternoon, as alfb
did fome of the Blacks which I brought from the,
Ifle o^ SaL and went up to Town ; and undcrt.

ftandiaf

[ ^<-3

landing that I defigned for Paragheefi^ they dcr
fired that I would let their Turtle remain brti
board tiU the Veflel came there, which I did.

Next Morning I weighed from Trefall^ and got up
to iParajrheefi about 9 a Clock that Forenoon, and
Anchored in the Old Road in 6 fethom Water 5 the
Reaibn why I did not go into Paragheefi^^ was, be-
caufe the Blacks I had on Board, informed me, that
If I went iji there (it being a little narrow Gut be-
tween 2 Rocky Points ; and tho' there was Water
enough for any Ship, infomuch that Veflels might
moor clofe to the Rock with one Anchor off^
and might even moor by Shore-fafts without any
Anchor out, yet it lying fo clofe to the Rock,
that you might ftep from that on board, and from
on board to Shore) I fhouldbe fo pefier'd with the
Inhabitants, when they came to hear I hadProvi-
fions to fell, that I fhould never be able keep my
Veflel clear of them ; and, perhaps, the greateft
Number of them that would flock on board,
would be poor, and unable to do any Thing but
beg or fleal ^ whereas, as I lay off at an Anchor,
there could none come on Board but fuch as I
thought fit to bring off in my Boat, and then I
need not be troubled with any, but thofe who
brought fomething with them to trade.

I approved and made ufe of their Advice ;
however, few w none came down befides the
Priefl, and thofe who waited upon him, or were
his Followers , whether it was becaufe I did not
moor in the Harbour, or that the Priefl prevented
them, for fear it fhould hinder my agreeing with
him to go to the Ifle of Sal^ I am not able to de-
termine ; however, I was willing to lay hold of
the Frieght oiFered, for fear his Sloop fhould
come, being fatisfied I fhould have Time enough
to make my Market at St. Nicholas^ after my Re-
turn from the Ifle of SaU which would not take

up

Up above a Week's time if no Accident happened ;
jbefides I did not fear any Veflcl coming with
Provifi9ns to Ipoil my Market, by reafbn it was
fhe wrong Time of the Year, being the Seafbn
for (hifting Winds, andCapt. Scott ^ as I heard, had
been there about loD^ys before my Arrival, but
could fupply them but with very little Provifions,
which was the only Thing they then wanted ;
and that Captain Scott was gone %o Bona Vift^
and {6 from thence to trade among the Leeward
Iflands. * So the Prieft and I agreed for me to fail
to the Ifle of Sal^ and bring off all the People
and Effeds that belonged to him, or on his Ac-
count, and he was to pay me too. Dollars, and a
lufly ftout found Man Slave, ^bout 30 Years of
Age i to be paid and delivered at our Return to
the Ifland of St. Nicholas^ before any of the Ef-
feds brought from the Ifle of Sal were landed ;
the Priefl alfo engaging himfelf to go along with
me, to make the better Difpatch in embarquing
fhe Goods from that Ifland.

So I concluded to weigh Anchor from Para--
gbeefi next Morning, and turn up to Carrifal^ a
Road lying on the South-Eaft fide of the Ifland,
being very commodious for Watering ; the frefh
Water running down to the Sea ; where I re-
iblved to recruit my Store of Water and Wood,
which was almofl fpent ^ the Pnefl: promifing to
meet me there the next Morning, with fome Blacks
to aflifl my Men in that Work. Accordingly next
Morning I weighed before Day, and got up and
Anchored in Currifal Koad before Noon j where,
according to Promife, the Priefl met me with
four Blacks. We were not long a Watering, the
Water being, as I obforved fo nigh the Seafide ;
but the Wood was a long Way to fetch, and over
fteep Rocks, fo that if it had not been for the
Blacks Afliftance, I believe my own Mei;i would

» .»

[18 3

not have been able to have found It, or to get it
down when found. The laft Turn of Wood wc
got on board about 1 1 a Clock at Night, and it
prbvingCalminthe Road, Icouldnot weigh An-^
chor that Night as I defigned. The Prieft, with his
4 Blacks, being Sea^fick, lay afhore on the Sand all
Night according to their Defire 9 and if I law an
Opportunity ot weighing, I was to fend the Boat
for them. He had fent fbme other Blacks while
we were Wooding and Watering, to hunt for wild
Goats, who brought in two, whereof he fent mc
one on board.

Next Morning, about Dawning, as It was my
niual Cuftom, I turned out, it continuing ftill
Calm ; and as the Day broke out, looking about,
I efpy'd three Sail of Ships off the Bay, one Ship
to the Eaftward, another Ship to the Weftward,
and the Third right off the Middle of the Bay ^
the firft of them that I made plain with my Glaft
was the Eaft wardmoft Ship, which feemed to be a
fiill-built and loaden Ship, and I took the reft to
be the faijie, and of her Company, and imagined
thaf^ perhaps, they might want Water, &c.
Tney had but very little Wind in the Offing, and
it continued ftill Calm in the Bay. I faw them
bring to, then edge away, but could not perceive
any Signals made by them ; and feeing them aft
thus, I ftill continued in my firft Opinion, that they
wanted to touch at the Ifland for Wood, Water,
&c. but that, perhaps, they might be unac-
■ quainted with the Roads or Harbours of the
Ifland i infomuch that I was almoft of the Mind to
fend my Mate off with the Boat to conduft them
in. ^

As fbon as the Day broke up clear, that they
made me, the Middlemoft of the three ftood
right in for me, and as the Sun rol?, the Wind
frefliencd and backed more to the Eaftward^ as is

C 19 1

tifu^l there after calm Nights. As (he drew nigh-
er, I made her with my Glafs to be a Scooner,
and full of Hands, all in their white Shirts, and
likewife I faw a whole Tier of Great Guns ^ and
then, indeed, I began to fulpeft what they
were : But I had no Remedy but patiently to .
wait the Event, for I could cIo nothing, except
I put the Veflel afliore, which would have been
tneer Madnefs to have done, altho' I had been
iure they were Pirates 5 and I was fo fiirrounded
by them, that there was no PofHbility of efcaping
from them, and efpecially, it holding calm within
the Bay^ and they coming in with the Day-
Breeze, came in as faft as the Wind. He came
in under an Englijh Enfign, Jack, and Pendant,
and as fbon as I perceivM his Colours, I hoifted
my Enlign ; he had eight Guns, and fix Patte-
reroes, and fcventy Men. He ftretch*d a-head
of us, and haled us ; I anfwer^d him : He ask'd.
Where the Sloop belong d to ? I anfwer'd, STo Lon-
don. He ask'd. From whence we came ? I told
him. From Barbadoes. He faid. It was <very
well i he knew that 3 and fo brought to a-head of
us, and bid me lend my Boat on Board of
him y which accordingly I did, with' two Hands
in her, and I my lelf kept walking on the Deck.
The Captain of the Scooner, whofe Name was
John Lopez^ a Portuguefe (as I was told after-
wards 5 but then went by the Name ofjohn Kufi^
fel^ pretending, tho' fallcly, that he was bom in
the Northern Parts of England) ask'd the People
who came on Board of him with the Boat,
Where the Mafier of the Sloop was ? who an{wer*d,
^hat he was on Boards and fent them with the Boat
to know what they wanted. He ask'd them, Which
was the Mafter of the Sloop ? So they (hew'd me
to him as I was walking the Sloop's Deck, and
then he immediately call'd to me^ faying, Tm

£^jf^^ fUtScnefaB ! you ffecJded-Sbirt Bogl

(jfi i nad a fpccklcd Holland Shirt on, and was •
Sup-^ioc'd^ and without Stockings, being juft as
I ntra'd out of my Cabin) So he ftill continued
caiiiog in that IVlanner, and I confidering what
Hands I was fallen into, and that it would be
cafie for them, to fend a Ball through me for my
Silence, which, perhaps, they might deem Con-
tempt of them, as indeed it was, I thought it
was the lafeft and wifeft Courfe, to anfwer, ac-
cording to the Proverb, IVbm your Hand is in
the. Lions Mouthy get it out as eafie as you catty
and not, in the leaft, to leem to relent any thing;
that they faid, or did to me, bw tndeai\x>ur to
iiibmit, if not with a witUosr M&ni. m with a
feeming PatiencC;^ as^ m rrcitJu I ogM do no
otherwiie, except 1 wvNdkl^ with ji fooliih Raflmefs,
{)rovoke them to be my iixecudoners ; and, God
knows, a iinaU Provocation, nay, if they do but
conceit it^ fev will occafion rfie taking any honeft
Man's lii^ ^way. So I anfwer'dhim. Ho lo : He
iaid, To^ Dtigy yauy zs^j&tt did not you come on Board
mth ti^ Bour^y ytm Son of a jB— — ? I wili drub you^
jm D^ wtirbiTi tm Sncb of your Life^ and that
Jkcb toa. 1 made him Anfwer,- ^hat be only com"
ntandim^ tde Boat on Boards I did not think he re-
quired ^y km if be pleafed to fend the Boat^ t
woulJ owftr and 'xait upon bim on Board. He an-
iwer*d, ^^y, you Dog^ and I will teach you letter
Manors. Upon this, he order'd fome of the
Pirates into my Boat, to fetch me^ as alio eight
or ten more of them, to take Pofleffion of the
Sloop mean while ^ which accordingly was done^
and I came along Side of the Scooner. The
Captain of her ftill continued to threaten me
with drubbing, to teach me better Manners tbanfo
to iiffrottt biffi. I anfwerM, / did not dejigft to of"
froitt hifHy or any cf the Company. D^n yoUj yoti

t^'l

Dog, faid he, do not fiant there to chatter ^
come on ^oard. So np the Side I came, this giib^
tongu'd Captain ftanding at the £ntring-place,
with his Cutlafti ready drawn in his Hand, to
receive me. The leaft I expeded was a found
drubbing Bout, and I had abundance of Reaibn
to apprehend even worfe than that, he ftill con-
tinuing to threaten what he would do to me when
I came in : Jiut a Man in a Gold Laced Hat,
whom afterwards I imderftood to be the Gunner,
looked over the Side^ as I was coming up, and faid.
Come up^ Mafter^ youjhall not he abufed. After I
got in, the Captain up with his Cutlafh, as tho'
he was going to cleave me down, and faid, Tou
Dogj youy what was the Keafon you did not come on
hoard when the Boat firji came ? IVhat do you think
you d0 feme ? I anfwered. If I bad done amifs^ it was
throu^ ignorance^ n^ndfor want of knowing better j
and hoped that he would excufe this fny Faulty I not
knowingwho or what they were. Then he rapped out
an Oath, with a Damn yoUj you Dog, wbat^ or
who do you think we are r I paufed a while, not
well knowing what Anfwer to make, for fear
of offending them again , for one difpleafing
Word is as much as the beft Man in the World's
Life is worth, while in their Clutches. How-
ever^ after a little Paiife, I told him, / belie-ved
they were Gentlemen of Fortune beloJiging to the Sea.

At which he anf\vered and faid, Ton lie hy G ^

we are Pirates^ by G^ . Then I anfU'cred

again, and faid, IVell^ Gentlemen^ how I know
who you are^ but 7tot before^ and am forry I ha^e
mt carried myfelf as I floould ^ but, as I had told
them before, I faid. It was my Iffiorance^ newr
halving been taken byfuch Gentlemen as they before^
and^ therefore^ did not know the Way of behaving
myfelf to them^ as they might have expeSfed^ had I
leen acquainted with their Ways or Cufioms j (tho*

t j» 3

1 had been once taken by Pirates before, cdifiing
ftoih Newfoundland^ when I was a Youth, but I
did not then think it proper to take notice of it to
them, but the Revtrfei and thought it the fafHt
Courfe at f>relcnt, to pretefid Ignorance, as the
only Way to appeafe his unmerited, though dan-
gerous and threatning Wrath.) So after he had
hedored and bounced thus a \^hile, he asked me^
in a gaming Way, IH^y I hadnot ptit on my befi
Chatbsy when J cams a ^fifing fucb Gentlemen as
tbcy were ? I told him, i'bat that was the com^
nUm Drefs which I wore on Board my own Vejfel in
a Mornings and did not know that IJhould have paid
a Fifft to jiich GentUmen as they were^ when I
drejfed myfelf. Befides^ when he called me to come
en Board of him^ be threatned me fo^ that I came
from on hoard my own Vejfel as it were in a Ftight^
that made me have but very little thought ^ dr
Stbmdch either^ to change my prefent Drefs j but if
he pleafcd to let me go on board the Sloops and grant
me the Liberty^ it would not be too late yet^ to drefs
myfelf in better Cloathi. No^ damn you^ faid he,
now it is too late : IVhat Cloatbs we took you in^
youfhall keep : But your Sloops and what is in her^
is ours. I told him, / perceived it was^ but Jiill
hoped^ as I wholly lay at his Mercy ^ he would be
fo generous as to take only what they had Occajion
for^ and leave me the reft. He anfwered. As to
tbat^ he could fay nothing as yet^ that being a Com"
pany-bujinefs to decide^ and withal demanded of
me, an Account of every Thing that was on
board of the Sloop, particularly of the Cargo,
and what Money I had, or knew to be on board;
and if I did not give a true and exaA Account,
and difcover to him every Thing ; and if upon
their Rummaging, they found the leaft Thing on
board which I did not difcover, they would fet the
Sloop on fire, and me in her. He added, That He

had

had a full Account of what Cargo 1 brought out
&om Bariadoes ^ and, therefore, if I had touch'd
anywhere^, and difpofed of any of it, I muft not
conceal the Moneys for if I did, I Ihould fdfethe
worie. All the reft of the Johns that were
ftanding by, in a feeming ftienoly Manner, told
me, that it would be much better '^for me, to
make a full and true Difcovery of every Things
e&ecially of Moneys Arms, and Ammunition,
which, 2U they faid, were the principal Things
they fought after ^ for it was their Manner to
puniih Liars and Concealers, efpecialiy of thofe
Things they had now mention^, in a very fe-
vere Manner. I told them, I would give them
an Account qf every Thin^ on board, as exa<%
as my Memory would fufier me, ivhich accord-
lilgiy I then did 3 and withal told them. That if
I Billed in giving them an exad: Account of
every Things that it was not with a Defign to
conceal any Thing from them, but meerty the
Fault of my Memory, for which, if any hap-
pened, I hoped they would excufe me, and not
puniih me, as culpable for that, which was not
a wilful or defigned Omi/fioii. But^ faid I, ;/
you pleafe^ Gentlemen^ to give me Liberty to go on
hoatd of tb^ Sloop for my Papers^ and to perufi
tbem^ Ijhall then he able to ginw you a very i^xa£t
Inventory^ I tbink^ I may fay of every i'bing on
hoards except what prdperly belonged to my Men.
But Capuin Ru/fel told me No^ and as for my
Papersy be wouid take Care of tbem^ and if any
S^bing was found on boards more than I bad given
an Account of^ I mufi ft and clear.

All this while the Pirates were Rommaging
on board the Sloop, which, when they had done«
I fiippofe, as much as they thought fit, fbme of
them came on board, with an Account of what
ihey had found or feen there, which was nothing

C J4 3

more than what I had told them of bdbre,
laving a Ring, and my filver Buckles, which
really I had forgotten, otherwife 1 fbould have
mentioned them : However, they were lb gene*
rous as to keep them.

By this Time the Priefts and the Blacks, raifr
trufting how the Game went, were got a J>retty
Way up the Rocks, in order to elcape into the
Mountains, which the Pirates dblerving, Cajptain
Kujfel asked me, If I knew who tbofe Pecjji^
were F I not knowing but the lame Queftioft
might have been asked of Ibme of my recfplc^
and that, perhaps, they might have told thefiv
and not being willing, and, indeed, I ma;y lay^^
not daring, to be caught in a Ly^ ingenuoufly
told them the Truth, and laid, ^ey were the
Priefts and fome Blacks with bim^ wba were Uf
have gone with me to the Ifle of &il, if I b^ not
tbus met with them. He then asked. What W9
were to bave done at tbe Ijleof Sa\? Sol told ban
the Occafion, and alfo of the Bargam which I
had made with him on that Head. He laid, itbe
Priefi would never fee bis Sloop more. I asked
him. If be beard any tbing of ber ? He laid TeSy
they had taken ber^ and their own Gangj that tbey
bad put on board of ber^ ran away witb ber^ with
a Boety of Eight hundred Pounds in Money^ befides
other Goods h ^nd alio he laid. He bad an Account
of me^ and what Cargo I brought out of Barba-
does, and thatyin all Probability ^ I was then ar^
rived at St. Nicholas ; which Information^ and
alfo that the Priefi and Governor of St. Nicholas
had a pretty large Bag of Dollars ^ which each of
them had hoarded up^ was the only Occafion of their
coming here : otherwife^ if they bad not receiwd
this Inj^rmation^ they were defigned to have gone
direCfly from tbe Ifiand of Bona Vift, after they

C}5l

had cleaned and fitted their Vepls^ on their intends
ed Enterprize.

I told him, I could not imagine who could giie
him that Information of me^ for that I bad hardly
communicated my Defign of touching at tbefe IJlands
to any^ that I thought was oi" could he liable to fall
into their Hands^ except one Perfon. He told me,
h was one that came out in.Cbmpany with me from
Barbadoes ^ and to be Ihort, faid, it was Captain'
Scot told themj and how that all the Sloop was bis^
and he had filled my Hold full of Sugar^ Rjum^ &c.
and that he was fure Iwas^ hy this STsme^ arri'ved
0t the IJland of iSSr. Nicholas; St. Antonia^ orfome
flf the fyindward IJlands^ unlefs I was run ofuoay
ioith his Shop and Cargo ; and likewife that he bai
feen^ when he was lafl a trading at St. Ni-
choias, both the Priefts and Governors Money^
whicby as be reported to them^ be was certain^
neither of them could have lefs than 1600, or 2000
• Dollars apiece. S6 1 asked them, H(m it was with
Captain Scot ? They told mc. He was but indif^
ferent yet^ they thought he was better than be de*
ferved ^ and told me bow they bad burnt his Ship^
and that be had been put ajhore by them at Bona
Vift, where they believed be at prcfent was.

Kujfel ftill eyeing the Prieft and Blacks, asked
inc. If I thought it was poffible to go ajhore and
catch them ? I told him, / thought not. He
asked me, IVhy ? For^ he had Men on board could
out-^alk or out-^un them^ he was fure. I told
him, / believed not ; for before bis Boat could put
ajhore^ they would be got two or three Miles up i>u-
to the Country^ and that the Way there was fo fteep
and rocky ^ that I was fure his Men could not climb
up^ much lefs pretend to catch them. He anfwer-
ed, // did not fi^ify much 3 for he would have
him, meaning the Prieft^ and fome more of tbem^
before this Tme to-morrow ; and iuked me, IVhicb

D 2 W«

9ts tie fuglt^ AMcbaring'flace to the 9vwnf.
And alfb jran ^bicb ylmchorMf^lace was the.
fmcetiei Path cr Read ttpto it ?1 tdd him, I did
nt: hica: fcr certain ; neither was I anj'Ways acr^
^ifaintii on the Ifland^ hansing neuer been half a
.Quarter cf a Mile up fnnn the Sea-fide^ on any
Part of it. He laid, I might have heard from tha
Jnbabftants. I told him^ / J^d hear fme of tba
Inldbltants fay^ that the Rood of Par^heefi was
the nigbeft Axcboring-flace to the 3own^ of all the
Rxads idfout the I/land^ but what fort if Path^
ucy it was up to ^own^ I had not fo exactly in^
quired^ as to be able to fatisfy him in that. Well^
fays Kvffely we will go to Paragheefi ; and^ &ys he
to mc, you fhall pilot us thither. I told him, /
never bad been there ^ and did not know, but there
tnigbt be funken Rocks in the Way ; andy therefore^
thoti^t myfelf n:ery unqualified to take Charge of
the veffel thither s but^ I told him, there were,
two Blacks on board the Sloops both Native's and
Ftjhermen of tbatlfiand ^ and that one of them was
my Pilots and m^t be^ as far as I knewj wry
capable to pilot their Veffel into the Road ^ ot^
perhaps^ might difcover to them fome more emiye-'
nient Place to anchor or land at. Upon this, he
{wore and damn'd, faying, IVhat ! do you think
J wilt let a Negro pilot me ? No^ no s but fwore
Jfhould pilot the Vejfel into an Anchor ing^lace^ and
fiand clear if the kaft Accident happened to bet. I
told him, / would do as well as I could^ and that I
had acquainted him already of my little Knowledge of
jtbe Ijland. IVell^ fays he, do as well as you can :
Do as you would do^ was it your own Veffel. I
told him / would : IVell^ faid he, we defire you
to do no more 3 and immediately he gave Orders
to make the beft of* our Way down to Para-^
ftheefi^ which accordingly was done ; and the Pi-
'Ijtes on board my Sloop flipped the Cable, be-

caufe

r"

E 37 ]

caufe they would not take the Pains to welsh the
Anchor^ and fb, through Sloth and Lazinels, left*
a good Cable and Anchor behind.

All this Tiine^ the other two Ships lay too in
the OflSng, but as fbon us they {aw us make fail
down to Leeward, the Kofe Pink^ having 36 Guns
mounted, commanded by Edward Loe^ who was
then Conunodore of them, edged in towards us,
upon which we edged ofF towards him, and (poke
with him, and Kujfel gave him an Account of
what had palled, and of his Defign of landing
tthat Evening upon the Ifland of St. Nicholas^ in
order to take the Prieft and Governor, if he ap-
proved of their RdK>lution. Which the Commo-
dore faid he did, and immediately ordered his
great Launch to be mann'd, and (fent (bme more
of his Ship's Company to join and reinferce the
Scooner's Crew, and to go afliore with them in
the Expedition ; which was accordingly done.

Then we haled in for the Shore again, and
when we were got the Length of Porto Lappa^
which is a Road, or Bay, lying about Mid-
way, or a little more, between Currifal and Pa-
ragbeefi ; one of the Scooner's Company raps
out a great Oath, That that was the befi Place
to land at^ and the nigbefi to the Town ^ upon
which Capuin Kuffel^ whom I underftood then
to be, not only Captain of the Scooner, but alio
Quarter-Mafter-General of all the Companies,
asked me. If it was as the Fellow faid ^ I told
him, / could not tell > it might be Jo as far as I
knew i for all the Knowledge I bad as to tbat^ was
only by tbe Relation of the Inhabitants^ and tbere^
fore could not be certain myfelf^ not knowing but
they might deceive me in tbe Relations they made
we. 'Hie Fellow Iwore, That he knew tbe Place
perfedly well 5 and that be bad landed there be*
fpre^ and was acquainted with tbe Way up to the

D 3 • ^()iPliX

9own : Upon which. Captain Ruffel ordered to
bftand in tor the Bay of Porto Lappa^ and lik<ewife
direded the Gang, that was to go aihore, to
have their Arms niady, and every Man to pre*
pare fb many Rounds of Cartridges, both for
Fiftols and Pieces, and to be in a Readinels to
cmbarque in the Boats, as fbon as we fhould be
got nigh enough to the Land. When we cam?
within about half a League of the Shore, the
Boats were maim'd by Kuffef$ Order, who
alio went afhore, and headed them, to the Nunl*
ber of 35, befides thofe which went in the Boats
to bring them off again. We were ordered by
Kuffely as fbon as the Boats were put off, to make
the beft of our Way down to Paragbeefi^ and
come to an Anchor, and ftay there till farther
Orders, and the Boats were to follow us down to
the Bay, after they had landed the Men at Porto
Lappa.

All this was accordingly perfbrmM, and we
caft Anchor in the Old Koad^ where I had an-
chored before in the Sloop •" and the Boats, after
they had landed the Men, alfo came down, and
got' on board of us about 6 a-Clock that Evening;
the two Ships keeping plying ofi^ and on, open
with where we lay.

Here we rid all Night, during which, the
Commodore kept out a Light, as we alfb did to
aniwer him ^ and next Day Captain Kujfelj with
all his Company, came down to Paragbeeji^ and
brought with them as Prifbncrs, the Prieft, and
the old Governor's Son, with five or fix Men-
blacks y and upon their haling the Scooner, the
Boats were mann'd and fent aibore for them,
and they were all brought off together. It was
about one a-Clock in the Afternoon when th^
came on board, and immediately, we weighed,
and ftood off to the Ships, which were thai ly«

• inz

[59]

ing too in the Offing ; and when we were come

within Call of the Q)mmodore, he haled us, and

asked. How all fared? Aid what Luck? And was

anfwcrcd by Ruffelj 3'bat be would wait on bim on

hardj andgirue bim a full and particular Account.

Accordingly the Launch was forthwith manned,

4nd the Men lent from the Conunodore, to join

the Scooners Men, for the Shore Expedition,

vrere ordered to embarque in her, to go on board

their own Ship ; which being done, I was order*

cd al/b to get into her, to prefent myfeli^ and

pay my R^eds to the great Captain Loe^ their

Commodore : Accordingly I went into the

launch, and Kuffel followed us in his own Boat,

with the Prieft, and the other Prifoners, which

they had brought off the Ifland of St. Nicbolas.

When I came on board the Rofe Pink^ the
Company welcomed me on board, and faid, I'hey
were forry for my Lofs ; hut told me^ I muft go to
pay my KefpeSts to tbe Captain^ wbo was in the
Cahbin^ and waited for me. I was ufliercd in by
an Officer, who, I think, was their Gunner, and
who, by his Deportment, afted as though he had
been Mafter of the Ceremonies 3 tho* I do not
remember to have heard of iuch an Officer or
Office mentioned among them, neither do I
know whether they are always {o formal on Board
their Commodore, at the firft Reception of their
captivated Mafters of Veflels. When I came
into the Cabbin, the Officer who conduded mc
thither, after paying his Refpeds to the Commo-
dore, told him, Uhat I was the Mafter of the-
Sloop which they had taken the Day before^ and
then withdrew out of the Cabbin, leaving us
two alone.

Captain Loe^ with the ufual Compliment, wel-
comed me on board, and told me. He was wry
forryfor my hofs^ and that it was not his Defire to

D 4 ^'^^^^

[4°] ■

tneef with any of his Country-men^ hut rather with
Foreigners^ excepting fome few that he wanted to
cbaftifefor their Kogueifhnefs^ as he call'd it: But
however^ fays he, fince Fortune has ordered H foj
that you have fallen into our Hands j I would have
you to be of good Cheer ^ and not to be cafi down.
I told him, S'hat J alfo was very forry^ that it
was my Chance to fall into their JVay ; but ft ill en^
couraged myfelf in the Hopes ^ that I was in the
Hands of Gentlemen of Honour and Generofity ; #^
heingftill in their Power whether to make this their
Capture of me^ a Misfortune or not. He iaid, R
did not lie in bis particular Power ^ for he was but
one Man^ and all Bufinefs of this Nature ^ muft be
done in Puhlick^ and by a Majority of Votes by the
whole Company ^ and though neither he^ nor^ be
helievedj any of the Company^ defired to meet with
any of their ^ own Nation (except fome few Perfons
for the Reafons before-mentiot^d) yet when they did^
it could not well be avoided^ but that they muft take
as their own what Providence fent them : And as
they were Gentlemen^ who entirely depended upon
Fortune^ they durft not be fo ungrateful to her^ as
to refufe any y*hing which Jhe put into their Way ;
for if theyjhould defpife any of her Favours^ the*
never fo mean^ they might offend ber^ and thereby
caufe her to withdraw her Hand from them i and
. fo^ perhaps^ they might perijh for want of thofe
^hingSy which in their rajh Folly they jlighted.
He men, in a very obliging Tone, defired me
to fit down, he himfelf all this Time not once
moving from his Seat, which was one of the
great Guns, though there were Chairs enough in
the Cabbin ; but I fiippofe, he thought he (hould
not appear fb martial, or Hero-like^ if he lat on
a Chair, as he did on a great Gun.

After I had lat down, he asked me^ IVhat I
would drink ? I thank'd him, and told him^ I did

wt

C 41 ]

not much Care for drinking ^ hut out of a Senfe of
the Honour he did me in askings I would drink any
S^bing with him which he f leafed to drink. He
told me. It would not avail me any fhing to he caft
down : It was Fortune of Ifdr^ and grieving or
njexing myfelf^ might he of no good Confequence in
refpeB to my Health ^ hejides^ it would be more
takings he iaid, with the Company^ to appear brisk,
lively, and with as little Concern as I could. And
come, fays he, you may, atui I hope you will, have
hetter Fortune hereafter. So ringing the Cabbin-
bell, and one of his Valet de Chambres, or rather
Valet de Cabins, appearing, he commanded him
to make a Bowl of Punch, in the great Bowl^
which was a rich filver one, and held, I believe,
about two Gallons ^ which being done, 'he order-
ed likewife fbme Wine to be itt on the Table,
and accordingly two Bottles of Claret were
brought ; and then he took the Bowl and drank
to me in Punch ^ but bid me pledge him in which
I liked beft , which I did in Wine. He told me,
^iat what he could favour me in, he would, and
wifhed that it bad been my Fortune to have been
taken by them ten Days or a Fortnight fooner ; for
then, he faid, they had abundance of good Commodi'
ties, which they took in z Portugueze ouiwardrhouni
Brafile Msn, viz. Cloth, as well Linens as U^ool-
lens, both fine andcoarfe. Hats of all forts, Stlk,
Iron, and other rich Goods in abundance, and be-
lieved, he could have prevailed with the Company
even to have loaded my Sloop. But now they had
m Goods at all, he believed, having difpofed of
them all, either by giving them to other Prizes, &c.
or heaving the reji into David Jones's JLocker (i.e.
the Sea) ; hut did not know, but it might be his
Lot, perhaps, to meet with me again, when it
might lie in his Way to make me a Ketaliation for
my prefent Lofs , and he did ajfure me, that when

[ucb

C4»]

fuch an OccafiMj as he was hut now ^ff^aiing tf^
offered^ I might defend he would not he wanting to
ferve me in any i'hing that might tum to mj Ai^
vantage J as far as his Power or Intereft could
reach. I coiUd do no lefi, in ccmimon Civility,
and the Truth is, I dared do no lefi, than thank
him.

Dy this Time, word was broi^ht into Ac
Cabbin, that the Qiiarter^Mafter-Ckneral Kuffet
was come on board, with thePrieft and the oditr
Friibners, which they had brought o£f from the
Ifland of St. Nicholas. Captain Loe ordered Cap-
tain Rjiffely the Frieft, and the Governor's Son of
St. Nicholas^ to be cdled into the great CabbiQ,
and accordingly they came, and the Cabbin was
immediately fiU'd with Officers, and fbme others
of the principal Firates, who, I fiippofe, by their
long ftanding, or their Adivity in Villainy, had
iignaliz'd themfelves for Principals of the Crew 5
out of whom, as Occafion &rved, they alio
choie their Officers, i^c. The Cabbin having
been thi's filled, Loe^ after Compliments palled,
bid KuJlfel and the Frifbners fit down, and then
asked Kujfel, IVbat News ? And how the Game
went ? Upon which, Rajfel began his Relation,
in thefe Words, as near as I can remember.

^ According to our laft Agreement in Gmiul*
^ tation, fays he, we landed with 35 Men, on
' the Ifland of St. Nicholas^ Yefterday in the Af^
^ temoon, as fbon as poffibly we could after

* the taking the Sloop, and putting Things in

* fiich Order as was proper ; and immediately
^ after our landing, we apprehended two Blacks
^ of the Natives, who were come down to know
^ who we were, and what Account we were up-
^ on, that they might go and acquaint the Go-

* vernor of us, as they faid. But we retarded
' their Journey, by making them our Guides, to

C 45 3 '

direft and (hew us the Way to the Town ; and
it was well we happened to meet them, for
Night coming on, we ftiould never have tound
the Way ; and befides, if we had, we fhould
not have been able, in the Dark, to know whc^
tiier we were going right or wrong, the Way
being, moreover,, very rocky, ftony , and there
being fome very fteep, as well as high Aicents
and Defcencs ^ fo that if we had hot had a
Guide^ we fhould have been fo difcouraged, as
to defer our Journey till the lucceeding Day,
which would have balKed us ; for if we had
not got up to Town laft Night, before we were
difcovered, the Rumour otour coming, would,
I believe, have frightened all the Inhabitants
out of the Town, and cauied them to fly to
the Mountains, and then we fhould have thought
that there was a Booty, but that our being dif^
covered, gave them an Opportunity of con-*
veying it away. But by our taking thofe Men,
we prevented any Rumour or Notice of our
coming, and fo were affured there was no Booty
there, but what we found. We got to Town
about 9 a-CIock at Night, and, by Eftimation,
from the Place of our landing to the Town,
was about 12 Miles. We went diredtly to the
Governor's Houfe, and having fet a Guard
there, to prevent any Body's going out, or in,
that there might be no Opportunity of con-
veying any Thing out of the Houle, I took
fome Hands with me, and went to the Prieft*s
Houfe, whom we found not to have been long
come home, from Currifal^ and had not the
lead Thought of our {o fudden Arrival here,
believing it was impoflible that we could reach
the Town till the Day following, if we were
defigned to come up , neither had he any No-
tice of our Arrival before, till his own Eyes

cotvftivxv di

[44]

amfirm'd it. But, however, he did not (eem to
be macfa iiirpriz'd. I fet a Gnard, to prevent
any Thii^ being co nv e y ed out ; andtfaePri^
ordered ioch ViAoak as he had, to be iet on
the TaUe, and ^^ne enough, and told me,
fbdibt amid wet emeriam us at fucb an unfea^
female 9ime rf Klgtt as be mouldy andbapedwe
mmld excufe bim far not being better primdedy
and taka tbe IflU for tbe Deed s adding, fhat to
fnfb as vce fi^nndj ve were 'very welcome^ wijhhig
it bad been better ^ but if we tarried till next
Dajj he laid, we Jbtmld be fufphed plentifully j
witb whatever tbe IJland afforded. Upon which
I thank'd him, and told him, I came of an Er-
randj and mn/t perform it^ wbicb was^ S'bat we
bad apofitive bformation^ from ^ery good Hands^
wbo tad been Eje^witneffes. that be^ as alfo tbe
Gofcemor^ bad good Store of Dollars^ as well as
Gold boarded upj and that we were come to
jhare it with tbem^ it being one great Branch of
«inr Strode not to let Money lie rufting and canker-
ing in eld B^s or Cbefisy but to make it move
and cireMJjte, whenever we could come at it. At
vrhich, the Prieft, without any apparent Con-
cern, replied, ^at whoever gave us that Infor-
mszicSj gave a falfe one^ as any one might eafily
c:mcirve^iftley tut gave tbemfehjcs leave to con-
pdit t^w unlikely^ nay^ he might very well fay y
"i«s7SpjV it wxc, to get Money in tbofe barren^ un-
cuhhxGtJ and connuercelefs Jjlands. I told him,
Iwss JUrercfbut two Senfes that could give me
AcwfAV.YJi wtetber the hifortnation was falfe^
cr :xbM U «v^ faid was trtie^ which were Seeing
and ft^ii»- He laid, / was welcome to make
ft f .f th^f Senfes to my Satisfaiiion, wbicb I ara
y«r^/lWhe, wilt then fully confirm the ^rutb
^^ fgbngi I bow faid j and immediately ordered
liCax-cuidles, C^hey having no other there, and

* them

C 45 3

them only for the Ufe of the Church, being all
coit^ated^ and fent thither by the Bilhop of
St. J^g(>r ^hofe Bufinefs it is to fend confecra-
fxA Candies, Oil, ^c. for the Ufe of the Church,
to all the adjacent Iflands) to be lighted ; and
we fearchcd all the Houfe, Chefb, Trunks, and
every where throughout and about the Houfe,
and found nothing worth mking, and only
about twenty Dollars in Mon^, which 1 did
n6t think it worth our while to take from him^
From thence I went to the Governor's Houfe,
and fearch'd there as narrowly as we could,
and found lefs there 3 after which I difpofed
of my Men as 1 thought moil: convenient
&r tne repofing and refirefhing them after
their fatiguing Journey, but yet with a due
Regard withal to our own Security, by fetting
a Guard, and ordering the reft to repofe as
as well as they could, and not one of them to
offer to flir out of the Governor's Houfe ; and
withal giving them a ftridfc Charge to be ready
with their Arms at all Calls, and at a Moment s
Warning, and not one of them to unarm, or
unfling his Piftofs : Which was accordingly ve-
ry regularly and orderly performed ^ and next
Morning we concluded, that not having lighted
on the Booty according to Information giveni^
or rather the Information being falfe, no fuch

Booty being there, we had therefore agreed to
feize and bring on Board the Governor, Prieft,
and four or five belides, of the principal Inha-**
bitants for your more ample Satisfadtion.

Captain Loe fitting as demure and attentive all
the while, as a Judge upon the Bench, of a fiid-
den ftarted, as it were, out of a deep Study,
and interrupting Kujfel in his Story, faid, Z — ds^
what Satisfadion is this to tne or the Company r
jye did not want tbefe F^llrjcs^ d — n them s No^ wff.^

ivahud their Money, if they had any ^ and if not j

they might have ft a/ d ajbore, or rone to the Den)it

where they belong to, fo we had oad the Money i

To this RuJlfel replied in a fomething' more ftem

Tone, and feidj Captain Loe, we bad as much

Reafon for, and Jntereft in, getting the Money, if

there had been any, as you had, or any of thi Qom-^

pany could haw, and we did as tnucb as could be

done to find it i neither do I believe they banje any

wore than what we faw, and which,, bad Jt taken

it, would not have amounted to Si9Cpence apiece

when Jhar^d among the Company, and^twas not worth

having our Name called in ^^eftion forfucb an in^

fignificant trifle. For my part, J am for fomething

toat is worth taking, arid if I cannot light witB

fuch, I never will give the World Occafion to fay I

am a poor, pitiful, or mem-fpirited FelUw : No, 1

will rob for fomething of VMlue, or elfe will not rob

sft all, efpecially from thefe People among whom we

nay reckon one of our Places of Refuge in cafe any

of usjhould be jeparated from the Company, or the

Company break, &c. and therefore / boldly affirm^

that by drawing on us an Odium from thefe People

for a Jrifie^ mtffft be of pernicious Confequence to us,

and more efpecially, if any of us fhould be put to

fuch Extremities as might happen^: For this, faid

he, would by all Men be accounted a narrow-foul^ d^

mean-fpirited Folly, and we Jhould, to all Futurity,

he cursed by our own Fraternity as often as any of

them werepincFd with the Effe^s, which wiould he

very likely to follow fuch an Overfigbt.

Hereupon Captain Loe interrupting him, re-
plvM, ^at what he faid was very true, and car-*
ry d abundance of Senfe and Reafon with it, and
defired that he would proceed no farther on that
Head ; adding, ^at he was fatisfied in what he did,
and believed that there was neither want of Judg-
ment or Courage in the Management ofit^ but withal

[47]

defired that he would proceed to finifh theHiftory
of tus Expedition, But come^ fays he, letus dontn
thing rajhiy ; and fb fills a Bumper, and gave his
Service to^Captain Kuffel^ and wiihing me better
Succefs for the ftiture ; I chank'dium, and fb the
Cup was ordei^d to pa^ round with a hill Bumper
to every one, except me, who alone was permit-
ted to drink Wine. >•

After every one had drank round. Captain
Jiulfel reiUTumed his Tale, and proceeded thus :
^Captain Loe^ as I told you before, how that
we had refblved to bring the Prieft, the Go-
vemor,and four or five Blacks on Board,to fatis-
fie you and the Company, that it was npt Fear
nor Cowardife that deterr'd us from obtaining
the Booty, which we and you expefted to find j
fb, biurfuant to our Refblution, I fent fer the
PriCT: to come to me at the]Govemor*s Houfe ;
but the Perfbn I fent, found that he was fled
away in the Night, with all his Slaves, faving
an old, lame Woman, who told them this.
Hereupon 1 told the Governor, who was a very
ancient Negro, If he did not caufe the Prieft to
he brought to me in two Hours time^ it Jhould be
the worfe for the Inhabitants of the I/land. The
Governor anfwer'd, ^hat he much feard it was
impojpble to bring him in^ by reafon he heard that
he wasfledy with fotne of his Slaves^ to the Moun*
tains^ and that it was *very eafy for him to r^-
main there feveral Months^ notwithftanding all
the Me aiis, which he could poffibly ufe to dijcover
him. He gave an Inftance of this in. one of the
Prieft's Slaves, who formerly had run away
from his Matter, and notwithftanding the Prieft;
ufed all manner of Diligence to apprehend
him, (and that he could do more that Way
than any one) yet that Slave was undifcover'd
for near twelve Months, and by moft People

t48]

thought to be dead : The Governor added
That the fame Slave being wiCh him now$ he
had) no doubt, thoroughly aoquainted his M^-
fter with all the Caverns, Caves, and other
Places of Secrecy. Upon which I told him. If be
did not bring him^ or caufi him to be brought and
delivered to fM in three Hours tinte at farthefi^ I
would^ as foon at that lime was expired^ burtt '
the^awn down to AJbes : He anfwer'd. He lay
at my Mercy ^ and would ufe all Diligence tofind^
and taufe him^ if poffible^ to be delivet'd to me
within the time timited ; but hop^dy that after
he had ujed his utmofi Endeavour ^ if it fbouH
prow fruitlefsj that I would be more confidcrate
than to make the Innocent fuff6r for the Fault of
the Guilty. I told him, I'he ^tme was fet^ and
I would not defer burning the Tvwn down to the
Ground^ one Minute after that lime was expired^
if the Prieft was not delivered into my Hands.
Then he told mfe. He hop'd 'H^e would not kilt
him^ nor abufe him in his Perfon t As for our
Goodsy lays he, them we leave wholly to your
Mercy. I told him, iThe Prieft fhould not be
hurt in his Bodju if he came andfurrenderd him^
felf within the utme limited^ and behaved himfelf
like a Man. The Governor ffent immediately
feveral Parties of his Blacks in queft of the
Prieft i and in the mean time I ordered him to
kill an Ox, and drefs it as fbdn as he could,
for my Men, and alio to get a Pipe of Wine,
and fet it abroach, which he accordingly did.
In about two Hours, fbme of the Blacks who
had been fent out by the Governor in queft of
the Prieft, returned, and brought word. That
they had found the Prieft, and fecur'd hini
from efcaping ; but he had fent them to deiire
the Governor to pray me not to be angry, and
heartily to beg my Pardon, being very ibrry

^ that

[49]

that he had given me lb much Trouble, and in
Affiance on my Goodnefi, he would wait upon
me, and caft nimfelf entitcly upon my Mercy.
I told the Governoi*, he might come without
Fear, for he fhould not be abufed j upon which
he came, aiid very fubmiffively ask'd my Par-
don, and hop'd I would not be angry for liis be-
ing fb rude, after I and our Company had be-
hav jd our felves fb civilly s repenting that he
fhould be fb fbolifti as to fheak aW^ fb, And
abfcond. having no Reafbn, as he believed, to
do fb, but his oWn groundlefs Apprehenfions ;
adding. That he was perfwaded to it, or elfe
he fhould not have done it of himfelf neither.
I bid him not be afraid, we would riot hiirt him,
but told him, he had like to have hurt th6
whole Ifland by his unadviled Rafhnefs i for
if he had not come as he did, 1 was refblv'd, as
fbori as my Men had got their Viftuals, to
have burn'd the Town down to Afhes, Chui*ch
and all. He faid. He thanked God that he was^ he
bop^d^ come 'fime enough to fct've it^ and thanltd
me for my Clem&itcy in deferring it fo long. I
fold him. It was very well, and bid him fie
down, which he did, and fent to his Houfe fbi*
Wine, Fowls, and an Anchor of Rum, which
were brought, and we made our felves very
merfy, eat and drank heaftily, kept Open
H6ufe, and treated all the Natives that came
to us ; the grdateft Part having taken Ex*
ample by the Prieft, Ifuppofe, arid fled out
to the Mountains for fear of us, tho' my De*
figrt was not to hurt any of them, while they
continued civil.

* After we had cateri and drank, irid fuffieient*
ly fefrefhed ourffelves, I told the Prieft and
Governor, ^hai they and fix more whom IJJyould
ohoofe^ muft go oft Board the Qommadore. The

C JO ]

^ Pricft fecm^d to be much furprizcd at this Nfew^fy
^ and told me, Sfhat he hoped we would not carrf*
^ them quite away from the Ifland^ nor make Slaved

* of them. Upon which I told him, / was a Ro-^
^ man-CathoUck as well as he ^ neither Jhould there

* he any Harm done to him^ nor any of them that

* w^nt with him ^ and that they Jhould only go on

* Board the Commadofe, and fatisfi^ him that the

* Information which he had of their having fo much

* Money yW as falfe. At which he feem'^d to be very
^ well contented, and accordingly we came dowtf

* and got on Board. And now here they are, da
^ you with them as you pleaie. **

Captain Kujfel having thus ended his Relationf^
Captain Loe Uid, He had done 'very well^ ana
ask'd the Prieft feveral Queftions, after which, he
direded them to be put on Board the Scooner, and
from her, to be put afliore ^ but I was ordered to
remain on Board the Commadore till by a gene-
, tal Vote of the Company it IhouW be determined
how I and the Sloop were to be difposM of i and
Captain Loe ordered a Hanunock and Bedding
to be fix'^d for me, and told me, Slbat he would
not oblige me to Jit up later than I thought Jit^ nor
drink more than/uited my own Inclination ; and thap
he lilCdmy Company no longer than his was agreeahlt
to me*j adding, ^at there Jhould he no Confine^
tnent or Obligation as to drinking^ or Jitting upy huP
J might drinky and go tojleep, when 1 pleas d, witb'^
wt any Exceptions being taken^ ordering me to want
for nothing that was on Board hfor I was wry wel*
€otne to any thing that was there ^ as to Eatables and
JDrinkables. I thank'd him, and told him, / would,
with all due Gratefulnefs^ make Ufe of that Freedm
which he was fo generous to offer me^ &c. About
iiSight a-Clock at Night I took my Leave of him^
and went to my Ha^nmcck, where I contiimed
aU Night) with Xhw^t^ rQving and perpl^x'd

* ** toough^

CjO

Chough, hot teing able, as yet, to guefi what
they dcfign'd to do with me, whether they in-
. tended to give me the Sloop again, or to bum
her, as I heard it tofs'd about by fbme, or ta
keep me as a Fififbner oil Board, or put mse
aihoar;

My two Boys and Mate iremained ftill oH
Board the Sloop, but all the reft they took on
Soard of them, not once {6 much as asking them
whether they would Enter with them, only de-
manding their Name3, which the Steward writ
down in their RoU-^Book*

About eight a-Clock in the Morning I turn'd
dut, and went upon Deck, aiid as I was walkiiig
backwards and forwards, as is ufual amongft us
Sailors, there came up one of the Company to
Ine^ and bid me Good-Morrow, and told me, IIm
wus wry forty for my Misfortune. I ai]lwer'd^
So was li He looked at me, and faid, Hehe^^
tien)d I did not know him. I replied, h wdstrue^
I did riot knbw him i neither^ at prefent^ could I call
to mind, that e*ver I had feen him before in the whole
Courfe 6f my Life. He fmil.d, aiid laid. He once
belong d to me^ and failed with me when I was
Commander bf the Sufannali in the Tear 171 8 (At
that Time I was Matter of a Ship call'd the Su-^
fannahj about the Burthen of 300 Tons, where*
of was lole Owner Mr. Richard Stephens^ Mer-»
chantj living at this prefcnt writing in Shad'-
Slbames^ Southwark Side, near L(?»rfo» --i-.) In
the interim came up two more, who told me
they all belonged to me in the Sufannah^ at one
Timei By this time I had recoUeded my Mc*.
mory fo fer as juft to call themto,Mind^ aijd that
Was all ^ and then I told them I did remember
them. They laid, they were truly very lorry for
my Misfortune, and would do all that lay in thcit
power to lerve me, and told me, they had among

E 2 t^^

C 50

them the Quantity of about 40 6r 50 Pieces of
white Liniien Cloth, and 6 or 8 Pieces of Silk,
befidcs fbme other Things ; and they would allb^
they laid, make what Intereft they coxild for mc
wirn their Confbrts and Intimates, and with
them would make a Gathering for me of what
Things thev could, and would put it on Board
for me as foon as the Compaily had determined
that I ihould have my Sl6op again. They
then look'd ab6ut them as tho they had fbme-
thing to fay that they were not willing any body
ihould hear 5 but as it happened, there was na
body nigh us, which was an Opportunity very
rare in thefe Sort of Ships, of Ipeajcing with-
out Interruption : But we lying too all Night,
no body had any thing to do, but the Lookers-*
out, at the Topmaft-head^ the Mate of the
Watch, Quarter-mafter of the Watch, Helmf*
man, Wr. oeing gone down to drink a Dram, I
fuppofe, or to fmoak a Pipe of Tobacco, or
the like. However it was, we had the Quarter
Deck intire to our felves, and they feeing the
Coaft dear, told me, with much feeming G)ncem,
That if I did not take abundance of Care, they
would force mc to ftay with them, for m^ Mate
had inferm'd thenu tha^ I was very well acquaint-
ed on the Coaft of Brafihy and they were bound
down along the Coaft of Guinea^ and afterwards
defign'd to fbrctch over to the Coaft of Bra^
fik : That there was not one Man of all the
Company that had ever been upon any Part
of that Coallb^ and that there was but one Way
for me to efcape being forced i but I mvSt be
very clofe, and not difcover what they were

King to tell me 5 for if it was known that they
d divulgM it, notwithffamding they were en-
tered Men, and as much of the Company as any
cf than, yet they were lore it would odBt them

no

no fnialli»r a Price for it than their Lives. I told
them, I was very much obliged to them for their
Good-will, and did not wim *them to have any
Occafion for my Service s but if ever it (hould
be fb, they might depend it ftiould be to the utmoft
of my Power j and as for my betraying any thing
that they Ihould tell me of, theycould not fear
that, becaufe my own Intereft would be a fufEci-
ent Tye upon me to the contrary ; and were it
not foj and that I was fure to get Mountains of
Gold by divulging it to their Prejudice, I would
feoner fiiffer my Tongue to be pluck'd out.

They faid, they did not much fear my reveal-
ing it, becaufe the difclofing it would rather be
a Prejudice to me than an Advantage, and there-
fere out of pure Refpe6k to me they would tell
me 'y which was thus i^Tou muft know^ faid they,
that we have an Article which we are [worn to^
^hich is^ not to force any married Man^ againfi his
IVilly to ferve us : Now we have been at a clofe
donfultation whether we Jhould oblige you to go with
ifs^ not as one of the Company , but as a forced Pri^
fmerj in order to he our Pilot on the Coaji of Bra-
file, where we are dejtgned to Cruife^ and hope to
wake our Voyage 3 and your Mate^ continued they,
has offer'* d to Enter with usy but de fires to defer it
till we have determined your Cafe. Now your Mate^
as yet ^ is ignorant of our Articles^ ^me^never je^po^
fing them to any till they are going to fign them. He
was ask^d^ IVhether. you was married or not ? and
he faid^ be could not tell for certain^ but believed
you was not : Upon which we fpoke^ and faid^ we
had known you fever al Tears, and had failed with
you in a Frigate-built Ship of 300 ^ons, or more :
9*hat you was an extraordinary good Alan to your
Men, both for Ufage and Payment ; a^td that, to
our Knowledge, you was married, and htrd four
'Children then : However, there i«. ow^ Afo« '^ho

£3 njcwU

[54]

Wouidfain h'dve the Company break thnugh theh
Oath on that Article^ and tells them, they may^ and
ought to do it^ becatife it is a Cafe of Necejpty^ they
having no Pojfibility of getting a Pilot at prefentfor
tbatQ)afty except they take you ; And in their Bjin n^
long the Coaji of Guinea, // theyjbould light of awf
body that was acquainted with the doafi e?/ Brafile^
and no way exempted from ferving them by the Ar^*
ticlesj then they might take him^ and turn you a*
Jhore^ but ^till fucb offer% he- did not fee but the
Oath might bedifpens^dwith ; but ^continued thcyj
Captain Loe is very much agait^ ity and told them^
Sf'hat it would be an ill Precedent y and of bad Con^
fequence 3 for if we once take the Liberty qf
breaking our Articles and Oath^ then there is none
of us can be fur^ of any thing : If^ faid Captaiii
LoCy you can perfwade the 2mn upon any Sterms fa
Jiay with us as a Prifoner^ or otherwife^ well and

food i ifnoty do not let us break the Laws that «;#
ave made our felves^ and fwom td. They went
on, and told me, S^'bat moft of the Company feem'4
to agree with Captain Loe*5 Opinion^ but Ruflel^j
laid they, feem^d to be fadly nettled at it^ that hiSt
Adn)ice was not to be taken ; and^ continued they,
you will bf asKd the ^eftion^ we reckon^ by and
hy^ when Ruilel comes on Boards and all the Heads;
meet again ; but you inufl be fure to fay you arp
■married^ and have Jive or fix Q)ildren ^ for it is
Wly thaty that will prevent your being forced; tho^^
you may depend upon it^ KxxiXkl will do what he can
to perfwade the Company to h^ak the Article^
which we hope they will not^ nor Jball they even
iave our Confeut ; andy indeed^ there are very fna
ef the Company but what are againfi itj but Ruflel
kearj a great Smay in the Company j -^nd can ah
poft draw them any If ay. However^ we have put
jfou in the beft Method that we can^ and hope if wU
4a : But^ for fear Notice Jhould be taken of murker

I

^& fi ^^ together^ we ba^e told ytm ns much itr
'^ve cany and have you to manage it 3 and fo God
hlefsyou.

Upon this, away they went, and by-and-by
Captain Loe turns out, and comes upon Deck, and
bidding me Good-morrow, ask'd me, id&x I did?
Md how I lik^d my Bed ? I thanked him, and told
him, / was very well^ at his Service^ and lilCd
fny Bed very well^ and was very much obliged to
him for the Care he had taken of me. After whichj
he ordered a G)nfultation Signal to b« made,
which was their Green trumpeter ^ as they called
him, hoifted at the Mizen-Peek : It was a green
filk Flag, with a yellow Figure of a Maa blow-
ing a Trumpet on it. The Signal being made,
^way came the Boats flocking on Board the Com-*
madore, and when they were all come on Board,
Captain Loe told them. He only wanted them to
Break&ft with him j fo down they went into
the Cabbin, as many as it would well hold, and
the reft in the Steerage, and where they could.

After Breakfaft, Captain Loe ask*d mc. If I
was itMrried ? and bow many Children I bad ? I
told him, / had been married about ten Tears ^ and
had five Children when I came from Hoine^ and did
not know hut I might have fix noWy one being ofi
the Stocks when I came from Home. He asked me.
Whether I bad left my Wife well provided for^
when I came from Home ? I told him, / bad
kft her in but very indifferent Circumftances :
S'hat having met with former Misfartunef^ I was
fo low redu^dj that the greateft Part of my Sub--
fiance was in this Sloop and Cargo ^ and thaty if J
was put by this Jrip, J did not know but my Fa^
mily might want Bread before Icouldfupply them.

Loe then turning to Rujfel^ laid. It will not doy
Ruflel. What will not do^ faid Ruffel ? Loe an-
Iv/erM, ToU know who I-^mean s we muft not^ and it

£ 4 . i6tf«

jjbtSwit n. kf <?-tf. Br ma^j mifi^aU^ hy G^
xcsi7^i 3ji^ y Sa^-Brefer^iirim is the firft Law
tf Sjor^y Jna Kecejjrryy jccarding to the old Prth
^stirjy ids na La^. Weily feys Lj5, RJhaU never
ie ^su^ my Ccujint. Herrapca mod of the Com^
poirrfaid^ h 'xm s Fity^ and m^ to be taken iUt'Q
Cmpderd^uaij and jenaujfy 'ze^gbed amoag^ tbem^
and then pit to :ie Vote. At which Laa laid, iS^
it Qi^rtj aad there is mitbing liia tie S^ma prefent
to deeide the O mtrmx r f y^ and to determiMt the
HfLmerz Thej all anfwcfcd, -Ay^ it was hefi to
end it nax.

Then Lee ocdered them all to go i^xxi Deck,
and bid me flay in the Cabhin ^ ib op they went
all hands, and I iat ftiU and finoak'd a Pipe of
Tobacco, Wine and Punch being left on the T^r
ble : And tho^ I was very impatient to know the
I^etennination, fbmetimes hewing it would be in
my Favour, and fbmetimes fearing the contrary ^
yet I durfl not go out of the Cabbin to hear
what they faid, nor make any £nquiry about it.

After they had been upon Deck about two
Hours, they came down again, and Loe ask'd
me. Haw J did P andbov) I lik^d my Company fince
they went upn Deck ? I thank'd him, and faid,
/ was njery wefly at bis Service ; and as for my
Company J I tik'd it very wsfl, and it was Company
tbat few would di/like. IVby^ faid he, / thought
you bad been all alone ever fince w,e went upon
peck. I anfwerM, How could you tbink^ Sir^ tbat
I was alone^ when you left me three fucb boon^ jolly
Companions to keep me Company ?

Z'-^Sy fays Loe^ and feem'd a little angry, /
left norbody^ and ordered norbody but the Boy
Jack, andbim Ihid.ftay at the Cabpi^hDoor^ withy
out-Jide^ and pot go in^ norfiir from the Door^ 'till
J bid him. But^ I faid, «SVr, my three Companions

twere not humane Bodies^ but thofe whisk, you l^ on

• tie

[ 57 3

the ^dbhj to witj a Pipe of tobacco^ a Bottle of
French Claret ^ and a Bowl of Punch ^ at which
they all laugh'd, and Lo^ faid, / was right: So
afier fbme D,t(courres had pafs'd by way of Di*
verfion,- Kuffel (aid to me, Mafier^ your Sloop is
wry Leaky ; I iaid, Tes^ Jhe made Water. Water •/
iays he, J do not know what you could do with ber^
fuppofe me were to give her to you, Befides^ you
have nolfands^ for all your Hands new belong to
as. I faidi, Sirsy if you pleafe to grve ber to mcy
Ida not fear y with God^s Bleffingj but to manage ber
well enough^ if you let me have only tbofe which
are on Board, which I hope you will : namely , my
Mate and the two Boys. Well, fays he, andfup^
pofe we did, you have no Cargo, for we have taken,
to replenijh our Stores, all the Rum, Sugar, ST^
tacco. Rice, Flower, and, in Jhort, all your Cargo
'find Provifions. I told him, / would do as well
as J CQuld, and if the worft eame' to the worft, I
could load the Sloop with Salt, and carry it to the
Canaries, where, I knew, they were in great Want
of Salt at prefent, and therefore was fure it would
gome to a good Market there : Ay, but, lays he,
hens) will you do to make your Cargo of Salt, having
no Hands, and having nothing wherewith to hire
the Natives to help you to make it, or to fay for
their bringing tt down on their Affes ; for you muft
believe, laid he, / underftand Trade. I tojd him.
If it did come to that Extremity, I had fo good IntC"
reft both at the Ifland of Bona Vift, as likewife at
the Ijle of May, that^ I was fure the Inhabitants
would affiji me all that they could, and truft me for
their Pay till I returned again ; efpecially when they
came to know the Occafion that obligd me to it 3 and
that, upon the Whole, I did not fear, with God^s
Bleffing, to get a Cargo of Salt on Board, if they
would be fo generous as to give me the Sloop again.
Well bftt, %s Huflcl, fuppofi w^ Jhculd let you

tsm the Sl&9f^ Md that you could do as you fay^
%hat ^wld you do for Promjums ? for we Jball
fea^je you nme 3 and Ifufpofe I need not tell you^
for^ without douttj you hum it alieady^ that all
tb^fe If;d»ds to IVindhoard are in great Scarcity of
Vsdaalsj and efpecially the two IJlands that fro^
duce tbt Salt^ wbicb have heen opprefsd foe many
Tears with a fore Famine. I told him, I was very
fcnftble that all befdidlafi was true^ hutbop^d^
if tbey gave me tbe Sloops tbey would alfo he fi
generous as to gtve me feme Provifions^^ a fmall
Quantity of wbicb would ferve n^ little Company ;
^ if notj I could go down to tbe Leeward IflandsL
wberey likewifey I bad fome fmall Intereft^ and I did
pot doubt hut I could have a fmall Matter of fucb
Provijums as tbe Iflands afforded^ namely ^ Maiz
pompions^ Fejbunesy &c. with wbicb^ hy God^s
Affiftance^ we would endeavour to make Jbift, ^tilt
it pleafed God we could get better. Aj buty lays he,
perhaps your Mate and Boys will not be willing to
tun that Hazard with yoUy nor care to endure fucb
Hardjhip. I t^ld him. As for my Boysy I did not
fear their Compliance^ and bop'd my Mate would
eUfo do the fame^ feeing I requird him to undergo
fk) other Har4/bip hut what I partook of myfelf.
Ayy buty fays RufleL Tour Mate has not tb^
fame Rsafims as you havoj to induce him to beat
fvith all thofe Hardjbips^ which you muft certainly
Ve expofed to in doing what you propofe ; and there--
fore you c Of mot expe^ him to be very forward in
ficcef4ingfuch bard lerms with you 3 ft ho' I cannot
eonceive it to be fo eafie to go through withy in tbe
Manner you propofcy as you feem to make it J. I
anlwerM, As for the Mate's Inclinationsy I was
not able pojitively to jt^e in this Affairy but I be^
lieved him to be an honefiy as well as a confcien^
tious Mauy and as J baa been very civil to him
in fewrai ^efp^ifs^ in my Profperity^ fo J did not

Il9l

40ubt^ if I bad the Liberty to talk with him a UttJe
en this Affiur^ but be would be very wtUing to
undergo as much Hardjhip to extricate me out ojf^ .
this my Adwrfity^ as -be could well bear^ or Im
Reafon require of him, which WBuId be no mor0
fban I/hould b^ar my/elf^ and when it f leafed Goi
$0 turn the Scales^ I would endeavour to f/iake
him SatisfaSiion to the full of what ^ in reafon^ be
fould exp0y or^ at leafi^ as far as J was able.

Come^ come^ iay$ Captain Loe^ let us drink
about. Boy ! bow does the Dinner go forward f
The Boy anfwer'd. Very wellj Sir. Says Loc,
Gentlemen J you mufi all Dine with me to Day.
They unanunoufly anfwer'd; Ay : Come tben^
lays Loe^ tofs the Bowl about^ and let us haw
afrefbOne^ and call afrefh Caufe,

They all agreed to this, and thep began to tall^
of their paft Tranfaftions at Newfoundland^ the
Wefiem Iflands^ Canary Iflanis^ &c. What Ship^
they had taken, and how they fcrv'd them when
in their Poffeffion 5 and how they obliged the QfOt^
vernor of the Ifland of St. Michael to fend them
off two Boat-Loads of frefli Meat, Greens, Wine,
Fowls, i3c. or otherwife, threatned to damnifie
the Ifland, by burning fbmc of the finall Vilages :
Of their Landing on the Ifland ofUineriff^ to th^
North waijd of Oratavo, in hopes of meeting with
^ Booty, but got nothing but their Skins nill of
Wine ; and how they had like to have been fuiSr
prized by the Country, which was raifed upon
that Occafion, but got all off fidfe, and withouii
any Harm, except one Man, who received a Shot
in his Thigh after they were got into their Boats^
but, they faid, they caufed feveral of the Spani^
ards to chrop ; and. That they fliould have beci^
certainly loft, if they^had tarried but half a quar-
ter pf an Hour longer in the Houfe where they
^^e drinjring, an4 where they cxpe^Skcd to get xm

[<5o]

Booty, iwhich they Landed in qucft of, accord-
ing to the Information given them by one of the
Inhabitants of the Ifland, who was taken by them
in a Fifliing-Boat, and told them, that, that
Gentleman had an incredible Quantity of Mo-
ney, as well as Plate, in his Houfe : And on
this Occafion they threatned the poor Fifherman
how leverely they would punifh him for giving
them a hi& Information, if ever they fliould
light of him again ; but, I fuppoie, the Fellow
tcept clofe aihore after they let him go, all the
Time they lay lurking about the Ifland : They
alfo boafled how many French Ships they had
.taken upon the Banks of Newfoundland^ and
what a vaft Quaptity of Wine, elpecially French
Claret, they took from them ; with abundance of
iuch like Stuff ; which, as it did not immediately
concern me, fo I fliail not trouble myfelf with
particularizing : And, indeed, my Attention
was fo wholly taken up with the Uncertainty of
my own Af&irs, that I gave no great Heed to
.ihofe Subjects that were foreign to me ; and
which, for that I^Leafon, made but a flight Im-
preffion on my Memory.

In this Manner they pafs'd the Time away,
drinking and caroufing merrily, both before and
after Dinner, which they cat in a very diforderly
.Manner, more like a Kennel of Hounds, than
like Men, fiiatching and catching thp Vidhials
from one another ; which, tho' it was very odi-
ous to me, it leem'd one of their chief Diverfl-
ons, and, they, faid, look'd Martial-like.

Before it was quite dark, every one repaired
on Board their refpe&ive Veflfels, and about
Eight a-*Clock at Night I went to my Hammock,
without obferving, as I remember, anythii^
wonh remarking, fave, that Captain Loe^ and I,
and thr^ or four more, drank a cguple o£Bote^

C <5' ]

ties of Wine after the Company were goncf, be^
fore we went to Sleep , in which time we had
abundance of Difcourie concerning Church and
State^ as alfo about Jrade^ which would be te-
dious to relate in that confufed Manner we
talked of thefe Subjeds, befides the Reafon I juft
now mentioned.

Loe ftay'd up after me, and when I was in my *
Hammock, I heard him give the neccflary Or-
diers for the Night, which were, that they were
to lie too with their Head to the North fTeftward^
as, indeed, we had ever fince I had been on
Board of him ; to mind the Top-light, and for
the Watch, to be fure, above all things^ to keep
a good Look-out ^ and to call him if they law
any thing, or if the other Ships made any Signals.
I pafled this Night as the former, ruminatipg
on my prcfent unhappy Condition, not yet being
able to dive into, or fathom their Defigns, or,
what they intended to do with me, and often
thinking on what the three Men told me, as alfo
on what the Company laid, but in a more parti-
cular manner, of v/hat Rtfffel told me concerning
my Mate, 'till Sleep overpowered my Senles, and
gave me a Ihort Recefs from my Troubles.

In the Morning, about five a-Clock, I turned
out, and a little after, one of the three Men who
fpoke to me the Morning before, came to me,
and bid me Good-morrow, and ask'd me very
courteoufly how I did ? and told me, that they
would all three, as before, have come and fpoke
to me, but were afraid the Company, efpecially
Kujfefs Friends, would think they held a fecret
Correfpondence with me, which was againft one
of their Articles, it being punifliable by Death,
to hold any lecret Correlpondence with a Prilb-
ner j but they hop'd all would be well, and that
they believ'd I ll^ould have my Sloop again j Kuf-

1- <50

y^/ being the only Man who endeavoured to hUm
der it, and he only, on the Account of having
me to go with them on die Cosdk of Brafite ; but
that moft of the Conipany was agaihft it, except
the meer Creatures of BMffeL He laid, I might
thank my Mate for it all, whcJ, he much fear'd^
would prove a Rogue to me, and Enter with
them s and then, if they fliould give me my
Sloop, I fliould be fadly put to it to manage her*
myfelf, with one Boy, and the little Child. He
dfo faid. That he, and the other two, heartily
wifliM they could go with me in hei*, but that it
was impoffible to exped it, it being Death eveii
to motion it, by another of their Articles, which
fays, S^at if any of the Company Jhall advife^ or
[peak any thing tending to tb^ feparating oir breaking
of the Company J or Jhall by any Means offer or en^
deamur to defert or quit the Company^ that Perfon
Jhall b^ Jhot to Death by the ^arter-^Mafter^s Or^
der J without the Sentence of a Couirt^Martial. Hcf
added. That *till my Mate had given Kujfel an
Account of my being a.dquainted oil the Coaft of
BraJtlCj he feem^d to be my beft Friend, and
ivould certainly have prov'd fo, and would have
prevailed with the Company to have made a Ga^
thering for me, which, perhaps, might not havef
come much Ihort in Value of what they had ta-*
ken from me ^ for there was but few in the Com-
pany but had feveral Pieces of Linnen Cloth,
Pieces of Silk, fpare Hats, Shoes, Stockings, gold-
JLace, and abundance of other Goods^ bdides^
i;he publick Store, which^ x£ Rstffel hzd cdntinued
my Friend, for one Word fp^ing, there was
not one of them but would hav6 contributed to
make up my Lofs ; it being tifual for them to
referve fuch Things for no 6ther Ufe but to give
to any whom they (hould take, or that formerly
was of their Acquaintance^ or that they took a

^refenf

pt^nttAkltig to : He faid farther, That he be*^
hevd Captain Loe would, be my Friend, and do
-what he could for me 9 but that, in Optofition
to Bjfffel^ he could do but little, B^ffel Bearing
twice the Sway with the Company, that Captain
Loe did j and that Kuffel was always more confi-
derate to thofe they took, than Loe i but now I
muft exped no Favour from him, he was fb exaf*
|>erated by the Oppofition that the Company^
and dpecially Captain Loe^ made to my being
forcM to go with them on the Coaft of Brafile :
He, however, bid me have a good Heart, and
wilh'd it lay in his Power to fefve me more thaa
It did, and bid me not to take very much Notice^
or fliew much Freedom with thejn, but rather a
ieeming Indiflference : Adding, That he and his
two Confbrts wilh'd me as well as Heart could
wifh, and whatever Service they could do me,,
while among them, I might afliire myfelf it
ilK>uld not be wanting 5 defiring me to excufe
him, and not take amifs his withdrawing from
me i concluding, with Tears in his Eyes, that
he did not know whether he fliould have another
Opportunity of private Diicourfe with me ; nei-
ther would it be for the Advantage of either of
tts, except fbme new Matter offered them Occa-
fion to forewarn, or precaution me, which, if it
did, one of them would not fail to acquaint me
with it : And fo he left me.

Some time after, Captain Loe tum'd out, and
after the ufual Compliments pais'd, we took a
Dram of Rum, and entered into Diicourfe with
one or another, on different Subjeds ; for as a
Tavern or Alehoufc-keeper endeavours to pro-
mote his Trade, by conforming to the Humours
of every Cuftomer, fo was I fbrcM to be plca-
tmt with every one, and bear a Bob with them
. Ml aUnoft all tbek Sort; of Diicourfe^ tho' never.

[ «4 3

(b contrary and difagreeable to imr own Inclina-
tions ; otherwilc I fhould have fallen under an
OiUiun with them, and when dnce that happens
to be the Cite with any poor Man, the Lord
have Mcrcv upon him j for then every rafcally
Fc-low wH Le^ lo:?te his Brutal Fancy upon him,
on.: i':rrer Uiit^ hin with hii Tongue, CwWch is
fTc ^211 T-T^^'^ rr kick or cuff him, or other-
Yi' - irme ::iiT* 15 rKv are more or lefs cruel, of
s-n.-r-z^I - mirii ry Dnniing, PaiEon, ^c.

drruiii J^/lU ■^'.tn lo.-ne more, c^ame on
Iv^cxL iv^'uT r5i ;i: clejea a-CIock in the Fofe-
:- -T. ^m -tssri r? 're \-ery pleaiant to me,
^•c; =: 7w r.^v 1 i-vi - rt"ilxg me, that he had
^--ii rmucsrii^ rr '«hit I Isid Yefterday, and
^rj.^ :cT irr* i^vv I icc'i he able to go through
i:rr :: T^iB: cwrj^vi be \-t^ry di£cult, if not
iTTTrci!?C:tf* irc I f^ouId nm a verv great
vMc I rccros'i He believd, hd
^-* ::r^ I vis i Mn?, and i Man of Under-
b^rwl::^. r^ :t r:^s Ciie I ndber leem'd to be
^: -.'iy^ r* *■• rcibimri EVc^jcnrion, than by
•■. .:::-^T . ::M vr .TI^• F'xrr. £70? I was fb care-
: - /. •• -. :'\:> r* o;r;:r:ri-i-^ to throw myfelf
, . .' . X -LC vc rtrx: :r ^ould ftand with the!
V V,' - r.- v.-rr.r^iiro*: cr rh? Company, to put it

TtVd me well, he faid.

^ A«

IT-- . . . ^. k ««

ii c ^.w .i.i\r: :--vr* rSi: ch^ Thoughts of me had
r-sv? ".:- v'? r".c grvJtKll Part of the Night ^
^••^r n: ^^ .", : ci*. a Wjlv which, he was fure,
A ,-.-.c ^f :rruc^. rrcr? ro my Ad\-antage, and not
^^:x^C: -rrc r- X- 'ri:xh Hxrard and Danger, and
^ -. : V .x^c a: -r^.'rt -^roeciW^", than I could expeft
>^ '^./ :>: r"c 5 sxc^ tho* ci-er}* thing was to fall
,Nc r,^ , ..'Wvi sty ETTCC^Jtion ; and did not
< vN.ct: .V r V C^orvtny ■ s Ji>Tt«ing to it : ^^d tbis^
v - > x\ :\ r" ^-i:cf ^i ^i :r lurn year Sloop^ and
« a ja£/ «$ ;3v .^vrat f tisn j^s ycu are naWj

viz. a PrifofiBT ; and I promife yoUj and wilt eni
gage to get the Company to fign and agree to ity
the firft Prize we take^ if you like ier y and if
not^ ytm Shall ft ay with us till we take a Prize that
you like, and you fhall have her with all her Cargo j
to difpofe of bow and where you pledfe, fdr your
invn proper UJe. He added, that this, perhaps^
might be the making of me^ and put Pid in a Capa^^
city of feaving off the Sea, and living afhort, if t
was fo inclin d ; protefting, that h^ did all th'it
purely out of KefpeSi to fne, becaufe he faw I was
a Man of Senfe, as he faid, ajtd was willing to
take Care and Pains to get a Living for myfelf and
family.

I thank'd him, and told him, / was forty t
could not accept of his kind Offer ; and hoped he
would eoGcufe me, and not impute it to an obfiinatd
Samper ^ becaufe, I faid, / did not perceivi it
woifld be of any Advantage to me, but rather the
Reverfe ; for I could not fee how I fhould be abh
t^ difpofe of the Ship, or any Part of her Cdrgo ^
hecaufe no Body would buy^ except I had a lawful
IPawer to fell ^ and they all certainly knew^ they
had no farther Right to any Ship or Goods that they
took, than fo long as fuch Ship or Goods was with^
in the Verge of their Power 3 which, they were fin^
fible, could not extend fo far, as to reach anf
Place where fuch Sale could be made : Befides, I
faid, ;/ the Owners of any fuch Ship or Godds
fhould ever come to hear of it, then fhould I be lia-*-
hie to make them Refiitution^ to the full Value of
fuch Ship and Cargo, vr be hbligd t^ lie in a Prifon
the remaining Part of my Days ^ or, perhaps, by d
more rigid Pro fee ut ion of the Law againfi my Per-^
fon, run a Hazard of my Lifd

Ruffd faid, i'hefe were but needle fs and ground'^
iefs Scruples^ and might eafily be evaded : As foi^
my having a Right to make Sale ttf the Ship and

Z66-]

they vcould give me^ they Could Hjitf
BUI ^ Sdle ^tbe Ship, andfucb other
mtsmfen feecers n ITritingj as were fuffkient to
ytbo ^ ^^ ^^ ^ heymd aU Poffibility of Sufi
yrwr^ «i iia: JJkmld wet have a$iy Reafon to fear
mtf ieag deuSed im tbe Salei And as for my j4p^
fnabesAa ^ jtfa|( difcmerd to tbe Ownets^ that
mgie £s ^^7 ee frevesited^ for they Jhduld aU
i^itfs imFz^ ij Examntatum of the Mafler^ &c.
essi Mmk 'jj ifr ffntit^ taken on board fucb Ship
{wkes^ liey aSm^ys tmk Care to feiz^ upon) who
iaef9 tx Oaaners amd Merchants concern d in hotb
&f JmiCirgfr^ as alfa tbeir f laces of Abode ; by
'smi^i Jei^etbe able to Jbun a Poffibility of their

: Adduig, Sthat I might have the
_ Mir in another NamCj which
/ «S^ gi by 'tia Jbadfinijb'd the Bufinefs^ and
ue» mimii ^maeemy own^ which Method would
sertMMiy fecmrt me frem aU Poffibility of Bif*

I rruihiafty /aftf ^^(tfs^ there was not only a
F^^-jtfavai^n^ twe a jtemiag Certainty^ in what he
jai z^as ir ameed abundance of Ifit in tbe
y htty I aflur'd him, that were I
p» Vmiv certMsty wbicb I could not be, that ^till
:.V iMT 4f^^ my Dratb it wtmld not be difcowrdj
y^s :^^€re «'**! Jttii a ftrouger Motive to deter me
->>v.« M»pMjg ^ ; wbicbj tbo^ it might feem, per^
i-?J^\ .'V fifem to be of no Ifiigbt^ and but a meet
K^j.uititWy yet it badntater Force with me than all
:^v K^^^ms I bud bitberto mentim^d i and that
x^s m Cunfdence^ which would be a continual
If -i^i^js ^uinfi mej and a conftant Stingy even
%^^f^ny periij^y m Body would accufe me : yhd as
th^e could be no hearty and unfeigned Repentance^
wHbota making a full Kefiitution, a^ far as I, was
^ky to tbe i^jurd Perfin j I ask'd them, ITbat
Mmi^ w^uld it bf to mey if J got fboufands

**

.f

f:

y

if ^miij 4ndebuldHot he atPeici M mf dufi
{cimfj -fin I bad reftord every S^hhig to thewoi
per Owners^ end after all^ remain as I was temrer
A grqu: deal diore) I told them^ I could &f
m^ ^s Head s but doo^Md ihu DUcouH^ ol
|£i< Natutt were liot vety taking with fomi of
&em^ and ni^ht feem or very litUe Accwnt |
7et J bope^ faid 1, and God forbui tbat there fieuUL
net he feme ofyouj who have a S%ougbt of a great
09td pomtffm God^ and a Conf€$eufnifs cf h^s mpar^
tiatJu/Uce to fumjb^ ds well as nf bis unfdtboma&
hie Mnty to pardon Offenders mm tbeir unfeijgied
R^fentance^ ufbUb. would not fo far extend as te
empiirase as to run on infinmngy tberehy ftefknung
te imp^e en bis l&rcy.

Smne of them (aid, IJbould do well to pHaci
'4 S^rmen^ and pjould make tbem a good dbaplaim
O^er^ ikid, No^ tbey wanted no Godtinefs to he
preacl^d there : That Pirates bid no God hut their
Money^ nor Saviour hut their ktn^. Otherf
laid, ^b£^ I had faid nothing hut what was wry
gpody true J and rational^ ana tbey wifii'd that God^
iinefSj ory at leaft^ fome Humanity^ were in moti
fradice amdf^ tbem ; which tbey belien/d^ would
be mote to theit Bjsputationy And caufe a greatei'
Efteeni te he bad for tbem^ both from God and
Man.

After this, 4 Silence foUowM 5 tkrhicK Capt;
Siuffel broke^ faying to me again^ JMafter^ as to
}foUr Bear that you wrOng your Neighbour in tdiing^
« Ship from us^ which we firfi took from him ; 0$
my Judgment^ it is groundlefs dnd without Caufe |'
nor is it a Breach of the Laws of God or Man^ as
far as Jam able to apprehend i for you do not taki
tbeir Goods front thbrn^ nor ufurp their Property i
S'bat we be^ve done w^out your Aivic^^ Concur^
tencey tr Af^anice ; and therefore wbate^r Siit

Und^ in ^y Opinion^ cannot extend to make atiy
mconccm^d Per/on guilty with us. It is plain^
heyond difputin^^ continued he, that you can be
no why P Maker with us in any Capture^ while you
are only a confiraind Prifoner^ neither jiving your
yfdvice or Confent^ or any Ways affifiing ; and
therefore it may he moft certainly concluded^ that it
is We only that have invaded the Rights and «-
furp^d the Property of another , and that you mufi
be innocent^ and cannot he Partaker of the Crime^
milefs concern d in that ASiton that made it a Crime.
But you feem to allow^ that we have a Property ^
while we are in Pojfejjion ; hut^ added he, / fup-
pofe you tbmk^ that all the Claim we have to the
Ships and Goods that we take^ is by an A6i of Vto-
lence^ and therefore unjufi^ and of no longer Force
than while we are capable to maintain them by the
fame fuperior Strength by which we obtained them.

I told hini, / could not exprefs my Conceptions of
it better or fuller^ I thought^ than he had done ^
but hoped^ neither he^ nor Capt. Loe, nor any of
the Gentlemen prefent^ would he offended at my
taking fo much Liberty ; which was rather to ac^
quaint them with my Keafons for 7iot being^able to
accept of their kind Offer ^ than to give any Gentle--
man Offence ; adding, i%at I had fo much Confi--
dence in their Favours^ that^ if I could have ac^
cepted them^ I verily believ^d^ they would all
i)ave concurred with Capt. Ruflel in what he fo
kindly andftiendly defignd me.

At which Words they all cry'd, Ay^ Ay^ by
C~5 and that / was deferving of that and more.
• I told them, I heartily thanked them all ingene^
ralj and did not-wtjb any of them fo unfortunate^ as
to ft and in Need of my Service ^ yet, if ever they
riidj tbey Jhould find^ that the uttermoft of my Abi-^
lityjhould not be wanting in Retaliation of alh the

mlitics tbey bad Jhewn me^ ever fence it was my

C "5? ]

Lot to fall into their Hands 3 but^ in a more efpe^
cial Manner^ jot this their now offer d Kindnefsy
tbo I could not accept it with a fafe and clear Con^
fciencey which I 'valued above any fhing to be en^^
joy^d in this If^ortd. I .laid, / could add farther
Keafons to tbofe I bad already urgd ^ but I would
not trouble them longer^ fearing I had already been
too tedious or offenfive to fome of them ; wbicb^ if
Ibad^ I heartily beggd their Pardon y ajfur'mg them
once more^ that if it was fo^ it was neither my
Befign nor Intent ^ but the Reverfe,

Hereupon they all laid, ^hey liked to bear us
talky atid thought we were very well matched:
Adding, fhat Capt. Ruflel could fcldom meet with
a Man that could ftand him : Rut^ as for their
Parts ^ they were pleased with our Difcourfe^ and
w^re very fure Loe and Ruflel were fo too.

Capt. Loe then laid. He liked it very well ;
'but told me, I had not returned Capt. Kujfel an
Anlwer to what he laft faid, which he thought
deferv'ci one.

I anlwer'd, That fince the Gentlemen v/ere (6
good-naturM, as not only to take in good Part
what I had hitherto laid, but alio to give me
free Liberty to purliie my Diicourfe, I fliould
make Ule of their Indulgence, and anlwer what
Capt. Kuffel had laid laft to me, in as brief and
inofienfive a Manner as I was capable of.

Then turning to Kujfel^ I faid, Sir^ Tour Opi^
nton of my Notion of the Right you have to any
Ship or Goods you may take^ is exactly true ; and
I think your Right cannot extend farther than your
Power to maintain that Right ^ and therefore it
muft folio u;, you can transfer no other Right to any
me than what you have your felves^ which will
render any Perfon who receivd them^ as guilty for
• detaining them from the proper Ow,ners^ as you f^r
the taking them..

F 3 Vis^

/ [ 70 ]

Hefaid, Be it Co -^ we wittfmfpefk C^d fkooH
rd a little angry^ f(^ Argumem Sahj we bav^
faken a Sbtp^ and are refoPv^d to fink or bum ber^
Mnlefs you will accef$ ^ bet : New^ frajy wbere '
js the Owner s Property^ wben tbe Sbif is fmkj or
turned ? I tbink the Jmpoffibility of bis bawi^ bet
ifgain^ cuts off bis Property to all Intents and pur^
fofcsj and our Power was tbe fante^ notwitbftandm
ing our p'vi^g ber to you^ if we bad tbougbt fit t^
pake ujeqf it.

I was loth to afgne any &rther, feeing him he^.
g^ to be peevifh ^ and knowing, by the liifor-r
madon afore given me by the three Men, that all
\w pretended Kindnefs and Arguments were <^y
in order to detain me, without the Imputation
u£ {laving broken their Articles ^ which be fouiHi
fhe major Part of the Company very averfe to.;
therefore, to cut all fliort, I told him, I waa
very fenfible of the Favours defign*d me ; an4
fhould always retain a grateful Senfe of them ;
That I knew I was abfolutely in their Power^
and they might difpofe of me as they pleas 'd ^^
hnx that having been hitherto treated fo gene-
roufly by them, I could not doubt of their fu«^
ture Goodnefs to me : And that if they would
be pleas'd to give me my Sloop a^in, it was ^
I requefled at their Hands 3 and I doubted not^
but that, by the Blefling of God on my honeft
Jndeavour^, I fhould foon be able to retrieve my.
prefent Lofi , at leaft, I faid, I fhould have
nothing to reproach myfelf with, whatever fhould
befal me, as I fhould have, if I were to comply
with the Favour they had fb kindjy intended
ibrme.

Upon which, Capt. Loe faid, Gentlemn^ tb^
Mufter^ I muft needs fay^ pas /poke notbing hut
^fobat is wry reafonahle^ and I tbink be ought t9,
^^e bis S^oQp. ^bat do ygu fay Gentkinen f

I ' ' "^^ • . > ........ ^^

[7. 3

The greateft Part of them anfwer'd aloud,

figftiffj and g6 in God's Name^ and pffk a Living
in bet for Bis Family. Ay^ faid Ibme of them,
and we ought to make fometbing of a Gathering for
the poor Man^ fince we have taken every Thing
that be bad on Board bis Veffel. This put an End
to the Difpute ^ and Qytry Body talked accord-
ing to their Inclinations, tne Punch, Wine, and
Tobacco being moving Commodities all this
Time ; And every one who had an Opportunity
of fpeaking to me, wifti'd me much Joy with,
and Succeis in, my newly obtained Sloop.

Towards Night, Kuffel told Capt. Loe^ that as
the Company had agreed to give me the Sloop
again, it was to be hoped they would difcharge
me, and let me go about my Bufineis in a fhbit
Time j and therefore, with his Leave, he would
take me on Board the Scooner with him, to treat
me with a Sneaker of Punch before parting.
Accordingly, I accompany 'd him on Board his
Veffel, tho' I had rather ftay'd with Loe^ and he
welcomed me there, and made abundance of
Proteftations of his Kindnefs and Refped to me ;
but ftill argued, that he thought I was very
much overfeen in not accepting what he had lo
kindly, and out of pure Refped, ofier'd to me,
and which, he laid, would really have been the
making of me. I told him, I thank'd him for
his Favour and Good-will ; but was very well
fatisfy'd with the Company's Generofity in agree-
ing to give me the Sloop again, which, I laid,
was more latisfaAory to me, than the richeft
Prize that they could take.

Well, fays he, I wifli it may prove according
to your Expe<9:ation. I thank'd him ; fo down
wc went into the Cabbin, and, with the Officers

P 4 only.

[71]

©nly, diverted ourfclves in talking ^till Supper
was .laid on the Table.

After Supper, a Bowl of Punch, and half a
Dozen of Claret, being let on the Table, Captv
Kujfel took a Bumper, and drank Succefs to their
Undertaking ; which went round, I not daring to
refiife it. Next Health was Profperity to Srade^
meaning their own Trade. The third Health
was, fbe King of France: After which, Rjujfel
began the King of England'^ Health ^ fo they all
drank round, ibmc J&ying, ^he King of England'^
Healthy others only ^he aforefaid Healthy 'till it
came round to me ^ and Capt. 'B:uffel having emp-
ty'd two Bottles of Claret into the Bowl, as a
Recruit, and there being no Liquor that I have
a greater Averfion to, than ^d Wine in Punch,
I heartily begg'd the Captain and the Company
would excule my drinking any more of that
Bowl, and give me leave to pledge the Health ,
in a Bumper of Claret.

Hereupon Kuffel faid. Damn you^ you fhall
drink in your ^urn a full Bumper of that Sort of
Liquor that the Company does. IVell^ Gentlemen^
laid I, rather than have anylVords about itj I will
firink it^ tho it is in a Manner Poyfon to me ; he--
caufe I never drank any of this Liquor^ to the heft
of my Kememhrance^ but it made me fiek two or
three Days at leaft after it. And dr—n you^ lays
Kuffel^ if it be in a Manner^ or out of a Manner^
or really^ rank Poyfon^ you fhall drink as much ^ and
as often^ as any one here, unlefs you fall down
deady dead!

So I took the Glafs, which was one of your
Hollands GlaiTcs, made in the Form of a Beaker,
without a Foot, holding about three Quarters of
a Pint, and filling it to the Brim, laid. Gentle-
. nten^ here is ths aforefaid Health. What Health
ij tiat^ faid Kujfel / Wby^ fays I, the fame

[73]

Health you all haw drank^ ^be King of England'r
Health. IVhy^ lays Rujfef^ who is Ktng 0/ Eng- «
land ? I anfwer'd. In my Opinion^ be that wears
the Crown^ is certainly King while be keeps it.
Well^ fays he, and pray who is that P IVhy^ iky%
I, King George at pre ent wears it. Hereupon
he.broke out in the moft outrageous Fury, damn-
ing me, and calling me Rafcally Son of a B — ^
and abufing his Majefly in fiich a virulent Man-
ner, as is not fit to be repeated, aflerting, with
bitter Curies, that we had no King.

I i(aid, / admird that he would begin and drink
a Health to a Perfon who was not in being. Upon
which, he whipped one of his Piftols from hi$
Safli, arid I really believe would have fhot me
dead, if the Gunner of the Scooner had not
{hatched it out of his Hand.

This rather more exalpcrated Kuffel^ who
continued (wearing and curling his Majefty in the
moft outrageous Terms, and aflerting the Pre-
tender to be the lawful King of England^ ^c.
He added. That 'twas a Sin to fuffcr ftch a falfc
traiterous Dog as I was to live^ and with that
whipped out another Piftol from his Safh, and
cock'd it, and (wore he would fhoot me through
the Head, and was lure he (hould do God and
his Country good Service, by ridding the World
of fiich a traiterous Villain. But the Mafter of
the Scooner prevented him, by ftriking the Piftol
but of his Hand,

Whether it was with the Fall, or his Finger
being on the Trigger, I cannot tell, but the
Piftol went off without doing any Damage : At
which the Mafter, and all prdent, blamed Kujjel
fer being Co rafli and hafty , and the Gunner
iaid, I was not to blame , for that I drank the
Health as it was firft proposed, and there being-
no Namps mention^, and King George being

[74]

poflefs'd of the Crown, and efiablifh'd by An*
thority oJf Parliament, he did not fee but his
Title was the beft. But what have we to do.
continued he j with theBJrbts cf Kings or Princes r
Ofif Bufinefs bere^ is to cbufe a King for our owu
Commonwealth ; to make Jucb Laws as we think
fnofi conducive to the Ends we dejign , and to keep
eurfePves from being overcome ^ and ftdfjeSied to the
Penalty of thofe Lams which are made is^mnft us.
He then intimated to Kujfel^ That he muft fpeak
his Sentiments freety, and imputed his Quarrel
with me, to his being hinddrd fi-om breaking
thro' their Articles : Urging, that he would ap-
pear no better than an Infringer of their Laws,
if the Matter were narrowly look'd itfto: And
that it was impc^ble ever to have any Order or
Rule oWervM, if their Statutes were once bro^
Jcen thro*. He put him in Mind of the Penalty,
which was Death, to any one who Ihould infringe
their Laws; and urg'd. That if it were once
admitted that a Man, tluro' Pailion, or the like^
ihould be excufed breaking in upon them, there
would be an End to their Society : And con^
eluded with telling him, that it was an extraor*
dinary Indulgence in the Gunpany, not to re-,
mind him of the Penalty he had incurred.

ILuffely ftill continuiii^ his PaiHon, anfwer^d.
That if he had taranfgrefiM, it was not for the
Sake of his own private Intereft, but for the ge^
neral Good of the Company ; and therefore did
not fear, neither in Juftice could he expe&, any
Severity from the Company for what he had
done ; and for that Reafon, whatever he (the
Gunner) or thofe of his Sentiments, thought of
it, he was refolv'd, whatever came of it, to pur-
fuc his prefent Humour.

Thea

Then fiys the Gunacr to the reft, W$IL

Qentkmn^ if you have a JMhtd tv maimam tboji
haws made^ eftAhliflid^ and [worn to by you aUi^
as I think w^ ar^ all obligated by the firongeft ^yes
if Reafon and Self-Inter^ t4> do^ I affitre you^ mj
Opinim is^ that we ought to fecwre John Ru^ft^
fo as to prevent his breaking our Laws and Confit*^
tutionsy and thereby do ourfelws^ and him too^ good
Service : OurfePues^ by not fuffering fucb an ARi^
w of Cruelty in cold JBioody as be more than once
attempted to conmitj as you are Eye^vitnejfes of^
4nd^ I believey mofi on Board have been Ear-wiP-
neffes to the Pifiofs going (^; and ail this for no
other Keafon in the Wbrld^ but tbrou^ a proud mat
ambitious Humour j conceiting be is the Man that is
net to be cmtradiil^;^ and that bis Words^ tbot^
tending toourHuin^ muft yet be Tecein)d as anOra^
^kj without any Oppofition.

At which they all faid. It was a. pity the Ma«>
fter Ihould fuffer, neither would they permit it ;
'atid {peaking to Kuffel^ diey faid, they would
not allow him to be lb barbarous : That they
had always valued themlelves upon this very
Thing of being civil to their Prifbners, and not
abufing their Peribns : That, ^till now, he him*»
ielf had been always the greateft Periwader to
Clemency, and even to the forgiving Provocati-
ons, and permitting them to go from *em with as
little Lofi as could be, after they had taken what
they had Occafion for : But now^ faid they, you
are quite the Reverfc^ to this poor Man^ and for no
€tber Rjeafan^ that we know of^ but^ as the Gunner
faid juft now J bccaufe we would not yield a greater
Power to you alone^ then you with the whole Com^
fany have when conjoined ; fhat is^ that you at any
^ime^ to gratify your own Humour^ fball have Li^
berty^ not only to difpenfe with our Laws^ but to aSi
againfk the Sentiments rf the whole Company.^

[ 70

Kuffet anfwerM, That he never did oppofe the
Company before ^ neither could he believe any
preftnt could charge him with any Cruelty in
cold Blood, ever fince he belonged to the Com-
pany i but that he had a R6a{bn for what he did,
or would have done, if he had not been prevent-
ed. Hereupon the Mafter interrupting him,
laid, Capt. Ruflel, we know of no Reafon for your
paffionate Dejtgn^ but what we ha've told you j and^
as you have been told before^ it irefleSis a Revenge
arainji the Company y but not being able to effeSl
that J you turn it on that poor Man the Mafter ^th$
Sloops and^ as it were^ in defpite of the Company^
yhecaufe they have decreed him his Sloop again^ that
be may provide a Living for his Family^ you would
harbaroufly^ nay brutifhly^ as well as to the Compa^
ny contemptuoufly^ murder that poor Man^ who has
given you no Occajion to induce you to fucb an A6ii^
^m that we know of^ and if he has given you any
fufficient Caufe to be fo offended at him^ we promife
you this Jnfiant^ to deliver him up to you^ to
fuffer Death^ or what other Punijhment you think
fit to infli^l on him.

Rujfel told them. That he had been in the
Company almoft from the firft, and he challengM
any one to charge him with Singularity, or Op;-
pofition to the Company, or of Cruelty to any
one Prifbner before tnat Rafcal^ as he call'd me,
and that therefore they might be afliirM, he
ftould not have taken up liich Reftntments a^
gainft me, if he had not a fufficient Reafon to
provoke him to it, which he did not think pro-
per at that Time to divulge.

^hen^ fays the Gunner, neither do we think
proper that you Jball take any Manx's Life away in
cold Bhod^ ^till you think fit to acquaint the Com^
pany with the Reafons for it , and I think it was
your Place to fatisfy the Company ^ before y^ took
"I . tU

[77]

tk^ Liberty to attempt tie Life of any Man imd^r
the Company s ProteSiion^ as I think all Prifonen
are : And^ to fay the Tirutb^ I do verily belieWj
you have no other Reafons to gi^e than tbofe hinted
hy the Mafter and me ^ and therefore^ I think it bM
Reafon^ to ufe fuch Methods as may prevent your
pajjionate Dejign^ andfecure the Prifoner 'till Morn^
mr, and ,then fend him on Board the Commodore^
iswo^ mtb the Adirice of the Majority^ may order
th4 Matter as he thinks heft.

This was conftnted to by all , and fb KuJJhl^
having his Arms taken from him, was brder'd
Hot to offer the leaft Difturbance again, nor con-
cern himfelf with or about me,- ^till after I was
on Board the O>mmodore, on Pain of the Crew's
Difpleafure, and alfb of being profecuted as a
Mutineer ; and the Gunner, Mafter, Boatlwain,
iBc bid me not be difcouragM j alluring me,
that there Ihould no Harm come to me while I
was on Board of them ; and that they would
fend me away now, but that there is, faid they,
ah exprefs Order among us, to receive no Boats
on Board after eight at Night, or nine a-Clock
at fartheft , but they would put me on Board
Gapt. Loe in the Morning, where they were fure I
ihould be protected and lecur'd from the re-
vengeful Hand of Capt. Ruflel ^ for they faid,
they were lure that Capt. Loe had a great Rc-
lpe6t for me, and would be a Means to counter-
ballance Ruffel 3 and they laid they would fit up
with me all Night for my greater Security : Which
they did, fmoaking and drinking and talking, eve-
ry one according to his Inclination, and io we
pals'd ;he Time away 'till Day.

Ruffel went to lleep about two a-Clock in the
Morning in his Cabbin ; however, the Mafter,
the Gunner, and five or fix more, d^d not go to
Bed all that Night, but would have had mc ^oae

to flcep, telling mc, I need act fear ^ for tliej^
would tskt Care (hat Ruffel fhould not hurt me.

About eight ii-Clock in the Morning, I was
tairy^d on Boa^d Gapt. Loe^ the Gunner anA-
Steward going with me, who told him^ all that
had pals d ^ and acquainted him, that they ftilt
believ'd Rsiffel to be lb implacable againft mej
that he would murder me in cold Blood .before I
got cleat of them, if he did not interpole to
proted me from his Violence. Capt. Loe laid.
He very well knew, aiid he believ'd fo did they
all, what was the Realbn that made Ruffel fo in*
yeterate and implacable to me : He added^
That Rajfei did not do well ; ahd that I had bc-i
havM myfelf lb inoflfenfively, that there could
be no Realbn to induce the moft lavagfe Monfter
to be luch an iitecoricileable Enemy to me ; but
that 'twas an ealy Matter to dive into the Cau&
of it, to wit, his beiiig thwarted by the Compa^
ny in his Humout ; and becaufe they would not
break thro* the Articles which cemented them »
together, and which were fign'd and Iwore to by
tiiem all, as the ftanding Rule of their Duty*
by which only they could decide and fettle G)n-
troverfies and Differences among themfelves ; thd
leaft Breach of which, would be a Precedent fot^
the like Infradfcions, whenever Huffily or any
other, thought fit to give Way eithei* to Re^
venge or Ambition, and that then all theif
Cbunfels would be fluctuating ^ ^nd Fancy, and
not Realbn, would be the Rule of their 0)n*
dudt ; and their Rclblutions would be rendered
more unconftant than the Weathercock. He
added. That he hoped the Company would in^
violablv adhere to their eftablifti'd Laws, which^
he laio, were very good j and were they not,
yet, as they were made by the unanimous Con-*
lent of the whole Company, fo they ought not

t 79 ]

to be altered without the ikmt uitanlmous Cah^
fenti concluding, that, for his Fart, he wouU
taxhec chti£e to be out of the Company than in
it^ if thsf did not rciblvc to be determin'd by
tiieir Articles. Hereupon they anfwer'd. That
what he had iaid was very good, and they were
rdfi>lv'd to adhere to his Advice.

After this they di^^nk a Dram, and then re«
tum'd With their Boat on Board the Scopner ;
and Capt. Loe tpld me, he was ibrry for Capt.
BMjfefs Diiguft againft me, becauie he believ'd
it would be a Disadvantage to me ^ but, how*
ever, there was no Remedy but Patience ^ a&
firing me. That Bjtjfel ihould neither kill me,
nor abufe my Feri(»i, and I Ihould have my
Sloop again, and be difcharg'd in as fhort a
while as poffible, that I might be clear ofRMjfel^
who, he was afraid, would always continue my
Foe.

AU the Officers and Men likewife fpoke very
friendly to me, and bid me not be daunted ; (o
we pais'd the Time away in feveral Kinds of
Difcourfe ^till Dinner ; after which, Loe ordered
a Bowl of Punch to be made, and ^id he wiih'd
j^was well clear of] them.

About four a -Clock in the Afternoon Capt.
Ruffel came on Board, as did alio Francis Spriggs^
who commanded the other Ship, and after a littk
while, fays Kuffel to Capt. Loe^ ^be Mate of the
Sloop is willing to enter with us as a Vohmteer.

Loe made Anfwer, and faid, H(m mnft we d4
in that Cafe P For then the Mafier of the Shop wilt
l^ave no Body to help him^ but one Boy s for^ fays
he, the little Child is no Help at all.

Kuffel laid, He could net help that. But^ faid
Loe^ we muft not take all the Hands from the poof
MaUy if we defigt^ to giw bim his Sloop again ;

[ 8o 3

lidditig^ S'ffat be thought in Keafon there could
ndt he lefs than two Boys and the Mate.

Z — dsy {kysKujfel^ his Mate is a lufiy young
hrisk Man J and has been upon the Account before^
and told tne but e^en now^ (for^ faid he, / was on
Board the Sloop but jufi before I came herCy and
Frank Spriggs was along with me^ and heard him
fay^) l%at he was fully re/olv'd to go with us^
and would nbt go any more in the Sloops unlefs
forced^ and when he came out of Barbadoes, be
faidy bis Dtfipi was to enter himfelf on Board the
. firft Pyrate that he met with ; And will you refufk
fuch a Man J contrary to your Articles ^ which you
all fo much profefs to follow ; and which enjoin you
by all Meansy not repugnant to them^ to encreafe
and fill your Company ? Be fides ^ continued he, he
fpoke to me the firft Day^ that he was refolv^d to
enter with us.

Loe replyM, That to give the Man his Sloop,
and no Hands with him to affift him, was but
putting him to a lingering Death, and they had
as good aimofl: knock him on the Head, as
do it.

Rufiel anlwer'd. As to that, they might do as
they pleased- v/hat he fpoke now was for thp
Good of the whole Company, and agreeable to
the Articles, and he would fain fee or hear that
Man that Ihould oppofe him in it. He faid. He
was Quarter-Mafter of the whole Company, and,
by the Authority of his Place, he would entec
the Mate diredly, and had a Piftol ready for the
Man that ftiould oppofe him in it.

Loe faid. As for what was the La\V and Gu-
ftom among them (as what he now pleaded, was)
he would neither oppofe, nor argue againft 5 but,
if they thought fit to take the Man^s Mate fitwn
him, then they might let him have one of hi$
^wn Men with him.

[ 8. ]

, KnJJiiikid^ Nos for all the S^idop^s Men wei^e
jdreadj enrolled in their Boolc^, and thereferd
hone of them (hould go in her again. Gentletmn^
€(MitinuM he, you mtfi conjlier I am new arguing^
«&Wff jtr f#e Ch^d of the Company^ as for tte
due Maintenance and Efcecmim if the Laws and
Articles ; und Us I am tb^ proper Officer fuhfiitmed
m$d intfi^ed *y tifis Company ivitb Authority to
fKtcate thfofftey fo {as Itoid you before) I have
4 PfjM 4fk ^ Brace tf Sails ready for any dne^
'Vlhb dare cfpefe n§e herein ; ahd turning to me,
faid, Mafter^ the Company has decreed you your
Shop^ and you fbatl ba^ve her ; you fi all have your
two Boys^ and that is all : Ton JbaH have neither
^rcmfimsy not any fbing effe^ more than as Jhe
eme is. Atvd^ Ihear^ there are fame of the <iompa^
Hy defign^ to make a Gatbi^iug for you^ hut that
^Jb i fM?idj by the Authority of my Plavty be^
eiufe we are ndt Certain hut wd may have Occafion
wrfekues for thofe very things before we get more 5
ettidfor that Keajon I prohibit a Gathering ; and I
fwear by all that is Great and Good^ that if / know
limy i'bing wbatfoever carry dj or left on Board the
iShop againft my Order ^ or without my Knowledge^
that very Infidnt J will fet her on Bre^ and you
inber.

Uooh which I laid, that fince it was thehr
Fteaiore to order it thus, I begged that they
*woukl not pot flve on Board th6 Sloop in fuch a
Condition j but rather begg*d, if they fe pleasM^
to do what they would with the Sloop, and put
irne, and my two Boys, alhore dn one of the
iflands.

Rnjff^/faid, No s for they were to Leeward of^
Ml the Ifknds, and ihould hardly come near any
^ them tiiis Seafbn again.

I faid, I Ihould rather be put afliore any where
elfe, cither on the Coaft of Guinea^ or on what-
ever Coaft they came at firft, than be put
i^ a Vidim on Board the Sloop ; where I ihould
have no Poffibility of any Thing but perilhinf ^
cxc^t by an extraordinary Miracle.

He told me, My Fate was already decreed by
the G)mpany5 and he, by his Place, was to fee
all their Orders put in Execution ^ and he would
accordingly fee me fafely put on Board the Sloop,
in the exaft Condition as he had but now men-
tioned.

I was going to make him a Reply, but cafting
my Eye on Capt. Loe^ he wink*d at me to be fi-
lent 'y and taking a Bumper, 4rank Succefs to
their Proceedings. The Health went round,
and L(?^ ordered the great' Bowl to be fiU'd with
Punch, and Bottles of Wine to be fet on the
Table in the Cabbin, to which we all refbrted,
and Ipcnt the remaining Part of the Evening in
Difeourfes on difierent Subjeds : Only Frank
Spriggs otfer'd to perfwade me to accept of what
was firft ofFer'd me, which Rujfel fwore I ihould
not now have, I having not once, but feveral
Times already refused it. Capt. Loe not being
then willing to have any more of that Kind of
Difcourfe, broke it off oy finging a Song, and
enjoining every one prefent to do the fame, exr
cept me, whom he faid he would excufe 'till
Times grew better with me : And thus they di-
verted themfelves, and pafi'd the Evening away
^till towards eight a-Clock, and then every one
repaired on Board their relpedive Ships s and,
after they were gone, Loe and I, and two or
three ot his Confidents, fmoak'd a Pipe, and
drank a Bottle or two of Wine 3 in which Time
he told me. He was very forry that Jack Ruffel
was fo fet againft m^. I faid, So. was I, and

wondered what ftould be the Reafbn of it^ hav-
ing given him no Caufe^ unlefs by drinking that
Health the preceding Night: I faid, I had im«
puted to Liquor, the Fury he was then in, and
was in Hopes, that after that had worked off^
his Refentments alio would have cooled, and was
not a little concerned to find it othcrwife. Loe
iaid. The Health was not the Cauie, but rather
the Bfled of his Anger, and a meer Pretence to
cloak his Refentment for other Difappointments :
Adding, That I did right to take his Hint given
me by winking, to anfwer no more ^ Fotj {ays
he, / knew that every fbing which you could fpeak
to him J would he taken Edge-ways ; and the more
you [aid to excufe yourfelf^ the more it would add
Riel to bis Anger^ which he turned againft you
who could not refifi him^ hecaufe he coula not have
bis Will of us 5 but we will, endeavour to draw bim
off by Degrees j and for that Reafon will not dif-
charge you^ but I will keep you on Board with me^
where he Jhall not hurt nor abufe yoUj except with
his ^ongue^ which you muft bear^ 'till we fee if we
can alter bis ^emper^ fo as to deal with you a
little more favourable than at prefent be defies.

I thanked him, and all of them prefent, for
their Favours and Good-will, and it being near
Midnight, \ye parted, and every one retired to
his Reft, and I to my Hammock ; and being
pretty much fetigued the Night before, as. well
as the preceding Day, foon fell afleep 3 and
about Day-dawning, I got up, and came upon
Deck, and walking upon the Quarter Deck very
folitary, one of the three Men, mentioned before,

Eals'd by me, and ask'd me how I did, and faid
e was very forry for the Unkindnefi already
flxew'd me, and like to be fhew'd ; but it was
w)iat they expeded, as they had before hinted
Came, and that ftill there was like to be a tough

Struggle about me : That Rufel did defi^ td b«
very barbarous to me, and that Loe^ and a great
Part of the Company, mtcnded to oppofe him
in it ; that there were a great many who wcrt
Kiijjefs Gang of Clan, and defign*d to flarid by
him in it, and had threatened, that if there were
much Difturbance about it, they would (hoot me,
arid fo put an End to the Controverfy : That
tjiere were fbriie, on the other Hand, th2^t
threatened hard if they did, to revenge my Death
by fome of theiirS j ft) that it was likely to be an
untoward Touch, and he wilh'd it might not
prove to my Difadvantage in the End; but
wolild have me ftill to keep a good Heart- and
truft in God, and hope for the beft, and oy no
means to fpeak one Word, or concern mvfelf
either Way, but patiently wait the Iffuc, wnich
he hoped would be better for me than fome of
tliem intended ^ arid ft) heartily wiftiing me well,
"^alkM his Way.

Now you muft believe theft Accounts were not
a little fnockirig to me 3 but I had no Friend that
I could really rely on, but God, to whom 1
made my Petiticwis, and whofe AfEftance I hum-
t)ly befought. to extricate me, in his own gckxl
Time, out or theft Difficulties and Snares wniCh .
were laid for me on every Side, and, in the'
mean Time, patiently fo to bear them^ as not
to murmur and repine at his fatherly Chaftift^
xrients, nor, by their Extremity, through Defpe-
ration, wound my Conicienices but that in sdl
Things I might, through the Guidance of the
holy Spirit, be direfted fo . as to fubmit myfeff
entirely to his Will, who infinitely knew whkt
was better for me than I knew myftlf

After fome Time pafs*d, Capt. Lo€ came upoit
Deck, who ask*d me how I had refted die pre-
ceding Night ? 1 told bixjv^ Xtry ^^U> canfideriug

C 8J 3

Wy prefpnt Cafe ; but, next under God, had
grounded niy Hopes upon him, to rid me of my
prei^t Fears, by difpatching njue away as foon a*
poiEt>Ie he could >'ith 03nyenjen(y. He told
me. He would do every Thmg in his Powpr tx)
fiirther my Defire?, and hoped that y/hat Ije hai^
already done on my Accowit, would lufficiently
jQDnvince me of his Defire to ferve me ^ but that
Things hitherto had fallen out vef y unluckily ^4
cto^j a^ I mylelf was able to judge by what was
already pafsd.

I told him, I had very good Rcafpns to re^
jturn him my hearty Thanks, ^d o^nM myfelf
bound to him in the ftrideft Ties of Gratitude ^
and that if it ever Ihpuld be in my Ppwer to
ferve him, I would not content mylelf with bare
Acknowledgments of his Favour.

He faid. His Will was at prplent more extw-
five than his Power ^ but that he ftill hoped to
prevail with B.uJ[felj and thofc wbp were o^ bis
Side, to be more compaffionate to me before I
parted with them, than at prefent they feem'd to
intend, and as fbon as he had brought them to
a better Temper, he then would procure my
Difcharge ; but if Rujfel ftill continued ine]qora-
ble, which he Ihould be very fbrry for, then you
muft endeavour, .lays he, to keep up a go<yi
Heart, and patiently wait 'till Providence brings
you out of your prefent Calamities, which I
hope he will.

I thank'd him, and told him, I would endea-
vour to follow his Advice, tho', I fa^d, 'twas
^fSth fome Impatience that I waited ti> haye my
Doom dettxmin'd in a Difcharge froni them. He
ind me be,ealy, it ihould be il^prtly.

By this Time dxere were IJbveral join'd witji us,
£o we jbrofce off that Difcoi^if^, apd felt into

other Talk.

G 3 Kaout

[ 8<! ]

About two or three a-Clock in the Afternoon,
Capt. Ruffelj Capt. Spriggs^ and fbme of their ^
Officers, came on Boaro^ and held a G>nfulta-
tion, which I was not allow'd to be a Hearer of;
but underftood afterwards, *twas chiefly about
their own Afi&irs, in Relation to the further Pro-
fecution of their intended Voyage ^ and by the
little mention that was made of me, it appeared,
that Kujfel continued ftill inflexible, bitterly
Iwearing, that he would, if he had a thoufand
Lives, lofe them all, rather than mifcarry in this
his fix'd Refblution.

In this difficult Situation I ftood, not daring
to {peak fi'eely for fear of offending, nor be fi-
lent, left I (hould be thought contemptuous j
not knowing how to avoid their Refentments,
and every Refentment menacing, and often bring-
ing Death. And thus I tedioufly, as well as
dangcroufly, pafs'd my Time among them, un-
til it pleas d God to put it into their Hearts to
difcharge me; tho% if ferioufly weighM, this
my D&harge feem'd like lentencing me to a
lingering and miferable Death ; yet I muft needs
confefs, confidering the whole Matter, that I
was in a Manner miraculoufly befriended and fiip-
ported, even in fpite of Malice, Rage, and Re-
venge, for which I fhall always pay my humble
Acknowledgements to the Divine Providence.

After ftveral Efforts made by Capt. i(?^, and
others, and abundance of Arguments ufed to
bring Kujfel to better Temper relating to me ;
and finding it all to no Purpofe, and that fome
of his Clan had bound themfelves by Oath \p
ftand by him, even to my Deftruftion, if the
Dilpute continued much longer ^ Capt. Loe^ and
Capt. Spriggs^ and others, who were my Friends,
refolvM on fending me away as foon as poffible ^
and for that Purple Loe^ the i oth Day after I

[ «7 ]

m^s taken, made a Signal for a general Conful-
tation on Board of him 3 and as foon as the Offi-
cers and leading Men of the other two Ships,
were aflemblcd, he made a* Speech to them, to
let them know the Reafon of his calling them to
a Confultation, telling them, fhat he thought H
was Stme to difcharge me^ as they bad before a^eed^
as alfo to profecute tbetr intended Voyage^ they hav^
ing^ lain a long itme dri'ving , and tbatj altogether
out of their IVay^ by Reafon they could not expeff^
either here, or in this Drift, to meet with any
Ships.

To this they all agreeing, Capt. Loe told them.
He thought it would be befi to difcharge me firfi,
for fe'veral Reafonsj among which, my being cum^
berfome to them, as well as unferviceable, they be-'
ing forced to fail the Sloop themfelves ; beftdes, he
[aid it was not proper that I Jhould be made ac^
quainted with the Defign of their Voyage.

They ask'd, IVby he did not turn me away?
Saying, ^hey did not know for what Reafon I had
been kept fo long, the Company having fettled that
Matter fo long fince.

Capt. Loe faid. Gentlemen, you all know what
Arguments we have had already about this Matter,
at^ bow Capt. Ruflel, and fome more, were angry
with the Mafier of the Sloop, and, I verily believe,
without any Caufe by him given to any of you de^
fignedly ; and therefore, I hope you have confide/ d
better of it fince, and laid ajide your Refentments
againfi the poor Man j neither, faid he, let us do
any ^hing now in Paffion, for I do not defign (nor
would I, if I could) to inforce any of you to com--
ply to any S'hiitg againfi your Will ; nor would I
have you. think. Gentlemen, that I fhall ever fhew
fo much Refpe£i to any Prifoner, as, on his Ac^
count, to caufe a Difference or IVr angling among our
felves 3 but yet. Gentlemen, give me Leave to fay,

G 4 ^fact;

^at tbo* Wi 4re Pirates^ yet W0 $re Men j Mi
tho' we are deemed by fome People difhoneft^ yet let
ITJ not wholly diveji ourfelves of Humanity^ and
make ourfepves more Savage than Brutes. Jf we,
[end this poor Man away from us^ without Pravifi^
ens or Hands to affift him. Pray wvat greater Crun
flty can there he ? I think the more lingering any
Death is made^ the more barbarous ^tis accounted hf
etll Men j and therefore j Gentlemen^ / leaw it to
your own Confiderafion.

To this, Kuffel made anfwer, Sthat he^ in the^
Company's Name^ had made the Majier of the Sloop
^rygopd and generjous Offersy in the Hearing of all
the Company ^ but that Ihad^ in bis Opinion^ afier>
a very flighting Manner^ refusd them : that 'twas
my Qhoice to be fent thus on Board the Sloops rathen
than the Compulfion ef the Company ; and tbat^ not-^
pithftanding he told me what I mufi truft to bf
infifiing on the Sloops and how fc^ixmrahle they were
defied to be to me^ if I would have but a little.
Patience 'till they could provide for me^ yet that I
pad refused their Faojours^ nofwitbftanding the Pains
he took to perfwade me y adding an egregious Fal-*
Ihpod, (but I durft not tell him fo) ^bat I bad
petitioned and beggd of the Company^ rather to be^
put in the Sloop in the Condition he now proposed for
ine^ and that therefore^ according to my Defire^ if
pouidbefo ; and be hoped it couid never b^ reckon a
Cruelty in them to give a Perfon bis free Choice.
j4nd^ Gentlemen^ fays he, we have bad a j^eai
many more IVords about this Matter already ^ tham.
ever we had in the like Cafe before ; but I hope yofi
aU have fQ much Value and Kefpe£i for one another^
and for the generalJPeace^ as that wejballbave no
mor^ Debate on thts Head^ hut det^mine at once.
tie, ^tme, when he is to be difcbar^d^ the Manner
of it beim already fettled by the major Party and t
f[ y9^^ ^^^r-w0er^ as my Office r^quires^, uiifl

«..■.. V

l*9l

ffe it imcufei^ and, perbafs, in a more favpufahh
Manner than at firji I aefim% or be really de^
ferves at mine or your Hams either ^ hut let tbaf

teji there. s

Then Capt. Lee faid^^ Mr. RufTel bath fpoke te
yeUj Gentlemen, his Sentiments, whieh, in tha
fnain, are reafonable and true, and lam glad he is
reconciled to the Mafier of the Sloop h^ore their

?arting^ and, I cannot fay, hut I always believed
ack Rwflel to he a Man of fo much Senfe, as well as
Qood-nature, that he would fcorn to take Ken^cnge
on one whofe Condition rendered him uncapable of
helping himfelf. And J think, Gentlemen^ we may
• difcharge him as footi as you pleafe, and this Afi^r^
noon, if you are all agreed to it. They aU (aid
Ay. Upon which Rjijfel told them, jt fliould be
done that Afternoon 5 tellii^ Jjoe, fhat after
Dinner he would take me on Board the Scooner
V>itb him, and, from thence^ fend me on Board tha
Sloop, and fee what could he done for me.

Some of hoe^s Company (aid, ^bey would look
put fome things, and give me along with me when
I was going away ^ ^ut Kujfel told them, tbey .
jhould not, for he would tofs them all into Davy
Jones' J Locker ;/ tbey did ^ for I was the Scooner s
Prize, and fbe bad all my Cargo and Plunder on
Board of her, and therefore what was given to pe
Jbould he given to me out of bet : Andtuming to
me (aid, lyell, Mafter, J will this Evening put
you on Board your own Sloop, and will be abetter
Friend to you, perhaps, than them that pretended
a great deal more ^ hut I am above being led hy
Paffijon, &c. They all din'd on Board of Loe^
who, after Dinner, ordered a Bowl of Punch to
be made in the great Silver Bowf, and (et a
Dozen of Claret on the Table, and that they
feid was for me to take my Leave of them, and
part Sailor-like. I thankM them ; (b they drank

■ w

C 90 3

rotmd to my good Succds, and then to their
own fortunate Proceedings and good Succefi;
and Loe told me. He mfioi me nyery wellj and
hoped to meet with me again^ at fome iime when
they had a good Prize of rich Goods ^ and he would
not fail to make me a RJetaliation with good Aivan-
t^e for my prefent Lofs. And they all prefent
fiid, / need not fear meeting with a Friend^ when^
0wr I met with them again.

About duskifhy they began to prepare to go
on Board their Ships, and I took my Leave of
Capt. Loe^ and all his Ship's Company, and in
particular of. the three Men, who, I believe,
were my hearty Friends, and returned them all
Thanks for their Kindnedfs, as well as good Hu-
mour, Ihew'd to me fince my firft coming on
Board of them. I alfb took my Leave of Capt.
SprizgSj and thofe of his Company who were
prefent, wifli'd me well, but not one of them, I
believe, dar*d to give me any Lumber with me,
nor duril I have accepted of it had they offered
it, for Fear of angering my but newly and feem-
ingly reconciled Enemy, who, in all Likelihood,
would have taken from me whatever they would
have given me : And for that Reafbn I believe it
was, that none of them offered to give me
a Farthing, notwithftanding all their Profeffions
of Kindnefs to me ^ tho* this Generofity is very
ufual with them, to People that they profeis
much lefs Favour for, than they did to me.

Kujfel being ready, I was ordered to go in his
Boat, which I did ^ and, as fbon as we were
come on Board the Scooner, he ordered a Sup-
per to be got ready, and, in the mean Time,
there was a%Bowl of^ Punch made, and fbme
Wine let on the Table. Kujfel invited me down
into the Cabbin, as alio all his Officers, and we
drank and Imoak'd 'till Supper was brought, and

then

then he told me 1 was very welcome, and bid
me eat and drink heartily ; Rfy he {aid, / bad
as tedious a Voyage to go through^ as Elijah*^ fort;f
Days journey was to Mount Horeb, and^ as fat
as be inew^ mtbout a Miracle^ it mtft only be by
tbe Stren^b of wbat I eat now ; for I Jhould have
neither Eatables nor Drinkables witb me in tbe
Sloop.

I told hiniy / boped not fo : He rapt out a
great Oath, ^bat I Jhould find it certainly true.
I told him, ^Tbat rather than be put on Board tbe
Sloops in that Maimer^ where there was no PoffibU
lity to efcape perijbing^ without a Miracle^ I would
fubmit to tarry on Board^ 'till an Opportunity of-
ferd to put meafhore where they pleas' d ; or would
yield to any ubing elfe they Jhould think fit to
do with me^ excepting to enter into their Service.

He faid. It was once in my Power to have been
my own Friend ; but my flighting their proffered
Favours ^ -and my own chufing wbat I now muft cer*
tainly accept^ bad render d me uncapable of any
other Choice 5 and that therefore all Apologies were
but in vain; and be thought he Jhewd himfelfmore
my Friend than I could well expeSt^ or than I bad
defer\)d at his Hands^ having caufed him to have
a great deal of Difference witb the Company^ more
than ever he had in his Life before^ or ever Jhould
have again^ be boped.

I told him, / was very forry that I was fo un^
fortunate as to be the unhappy Occafion of it ; but
could from my Heart aver^ that it was not only un^
defign'dy but alfo forely againji my htclinations ;
and begg'd of him, and aU the Gentlemen then
prefent, to confider me as an ObjeCi rather of their
Pity J than of their Revenge.

He told me, All my Arguments and Perfwafitms
now were in vain^ it being too late : / had not only
refused their Commiferation when I was offer d itj

[ 9» ]

^ tut UngfAtefutty defpis'd if : therefore j fays he^
MS I told fm hrfmj ifs m vain fdt you to plead
any mor^ : Tow Lot is esfft^ and pu hum nothing
nosp ta do J hut to go through with your 0ii(nce as
mil at ydu can^ ana fill your Belly withgui^ Vifiu-!^
Mis and good Drink j to ftrongtben you to hold it as
long as you can : It may be^ and is wsry prahahle
to be J the laft Meal that ever you may eat in this
World : However^ perhaps j fucb a Cotifcientious
Mm as you would fain feenty or it may be are^
ptay have a fupematuraly or, at leafty a natural
Means wrotMst by a fupern^tural Power ^ in a mi-
raculous Jmnnetj to deliver you. HoTipever^ J
cannot fay but I pity the two Boys^ and have a
great Mind to take them on Boards and let th^
miraculous Deliverance be wrought on you alone.

The Mafter and Gunner ftid, they heard the
Boys fay^ they were willing to take their Chance
tcith their Mafter ^ tet it be what it would. Nay^
then^ lays Kuffel^ ifs fit they fhould. J fuppofe
their Majier has made them as religious and as con-'
fcientious as himfelf Howe'very Mafier^ fays Biuf-
fely (fpeaking to me) / would have you eat and
4rink heartily y and talk no more about changing
your allotted Chance ^ becaufc^ as I told you b^ori^
it is all in vain ^ befidesy it may be a Means ^
Provocation to ferve you worfe.

Gentlemen^ fays I, / have done : I will fay no
more i you can do no more than God is pleas d to
permit you ; and I own^ for that Keafon^ I ought
to take it patiently.

Welly welly fays Kuffely if it be done by Code's
Permjffiony you need not fear that he will permit
Mny Thing hurtful to befall fo good a Mian as yot^
Mre.

J^bout tm a-Clock at Night, he order'd ta
^ali the Sloop^s Boat, which was brought hf
(k«m of tfa^ Firates of bis own Clan, who were

ftadon'd

C >}]

ftatiohM on Board of her, and isk^d ihm^ if

they had diMe as ie had ordered them^ vis. to ^at
the SloGpof enkry 9%iHg? And thfcy laid Tes^ ra{M
ing out ^ grrat Oadi br two, adding^ Sbe bai
nothing m Hoard exoepi^aJlaft and IVattt. Z— irfj,
fiid Ri#/, did not I bid you ftOve aft the CasAk
that had Wmt)r in tbm oh Board ? So ^ dfcf^ftid
thejr ; hut the fTater^that me [poke of was Salt*»
watery ieiik'd in hy the Vejfel^ and is How aboi^
the BaUafi ; for m bavie not pumped her we do no^.
know when.

Said Bjiffel, Ha^e yon hrou^t away the Sails t
told you of? Thcyftid, j^lhut the Mtinfailtbai
was hent^ for the other old Mainfail that be bad
iyrder^d to he left^ was good for nothing hut to cut
up for Pdrcehftg^ and hardly for that^ ft was jh
rotten ; befides^ it was fo tom^ that it coMd not hi
hrongbi ibo^ imd was paft mendings ahd for thdit
Ke^on they let it lie^ arid ivould not unbend the other
Mainfail,

Z-^dsj lays Rujfel^ we tnuft have it^ for I want
it to mkke us it Miiinfaii. D—n it^ faid the Men,
then you muft turn the Man adrift in the Sloop with*
out a Mdinfail.

Pijby laid Kujfel^ the fame miracutous Power
that is to bring him Provifions, can alfo bring him
a Sail.

Hnt^at a De'vil^ is be a Conjurer ? laid one of
them.

Noy no J lays Kuffel^ but he experts Miracles to
be wrought for bipt^ or be never would have cbofei^
what be bath.

Kay^ nay^ laid they, // he he fucb a one^ he
will do well enough ; but I douht, lays one of
them, he will fall Jhort of bis Expe^ation ; for if
he be fucb a mighty Conji^er^ how the Devil wW^iP
it that be did not conjure bimfelf clear of tts?^

1194 3

Pijb^ faid another, it may he bis cmjuring Books
were Jhut up. Ay^ butj (aid another, new we
ban)e hove all bis Conjuration Books over Boards I
doubt be will be bard put to it to find tbem ^ain.

Comey cottie^ iays the Gunner, Gentlemen^ tbe
poor Man is like to go tbrougb Hardjbip ^nougb^
emd very probably mayperijb ^ yet it is not impo0le
but be may meet wHb/ome Shlp^ or otber timely Suc^
€our^ to prevent bis perijbing^ and J heartily wijb
be may i but bowever^ you ougbt not to add Af
fiieiiom to tbe j^jUBed ; Tou bave fentenc'dhim to a
very daugereus Cbance^ wbicb I tbink is fufficient
iejhp ymr iSoutbs from making a Droll and Game
rf hm. J would bave you confider^ added he, if
amy of you were at Tyburn, or any otber Place to
bo oxeaOod^ as many better and ftouter Men than
kme rf yoUj bave been^ and tbe Spoliators^ or
Jade Ca»:h Jbould make a Broil and May-game of
yoUy you would tbink tbem a very bard-bearted^ as
mtlJ as an ittconfiderate Sort of People : And pray^
fymlomen^ confider tbe Sentence wbicb you are now
going to execute on this poor Mauy will be as body
ot ratber worfe^ than one of our Cafes would be
tiere^ becaufe^ unlefs Providence ftand bis Friend
m an extraordinary Manner, bis Death muft as cep-
Uinly enfue or be tbe Confequence of this your Senr
teucey as it would there be to any of us by tbe SetP'
Huce of a Judge, and fo much the more miferaUe,
fy boziJ much it is more lingering.

Damn it, faid RMjfel, we bave had enough, and
too much of this already.

Ay, laid the Gunner, a}ui take Care, Ruflel^
you have not this to anfwer for one Day, when pcr^
haps you will then, but too late, wiJb you had w-
ver do?ie it. But you have got tbe Company's Af-
/cut in this, I cannot tell bow, and therefore IJbaU
Jay no more, only that I, as I believe mcfi of tbe
^ ^pa)}yy came here^to get Money, but not to kill.

[95 3

txcept in Fight ^ and not in cold Bhod^ or for frU
wate Revenge. And I tell you^ John Ruflel, if
ever fucb Cafes as tbefe he any more fraSiis^d^ my
Endeavour Jball he to leave this Company as fom
as I pof/ihly can.

To which Ruffel iaid nothing in Anfwcr 5 but
bid the Men that'came on Board in the Boat, to
leave the Sloop's Boat on ^oard the Scooner^
and take the Scooner's Boat with them on Board
the Sloop ; and, as ibon as they iaw the Lights
upon Deck on Board of the Scooner, to come
away from the Sloop with the Scooner^s 3oat,
and bring the Mafter of the Sloop*s biggeft Boy
with them ^ and to take their Hands out of the
Sloop's Boat, and put the Mafter's Boy on Board
of the Sloop's Boat with his Mafler, and let
them go on Board themfelves with their Boat,
and to be fure to bring the Sloop's Mainfail with
them, and alfb the Mate of the Sloop. All
which they faid they would do ^ fb away they
went ; and then Ruffel told me. He would, give
me fometbing with me to remember bim 5 which was
an old Musket, and a Cartridge of Powder, but
for v/hat Reaibn he made me that Prefent, t
cannot tell ; and then order'd the Candles to be
lighted in the Lanthorns and carry'd upon Deck,
and order'd two Hands to ftep into the Sloop's
Boat to carry me away, and to execute his for-
mer Orders ^ and then fhaking Hands with me, he
wifli'd me a good Voyage. I told him I hoped I
fliould. The Gunner, Mafter, and feveral of
the Crew, (hook Hands with me aUb, and hear*
tily wifli'd me Succefs, and hoped I fliould meet
with a fpeedy and fafe Deliverance. I thank'd
them for their good Wifhes ; and told them I
was now forced into a Neceffity of going through
it, whether I would or not ; but thank'd God I
was very eafy at prefent, not doubting \u God's

C pO

Mercy to mc, tho* I was not deierving of it :
And that if I was permitted to perifli, I knew
the ^orft $ and doubted not but be would graci*
oufly pardon tnv Sim5 and receive me tb his
Everlafting Reft ; and, in this R<^k^ what
they had intended for my Misimtuhe, would be
the Bi^inning of my Happinefs ^ and that in the
mean Time, I had nothing to do but to refigh
Inyfelf to his biclled Will and Proteftion, and
bear my Lot with Patience. And fb bidding
them farewell^ I went over the Side into the
Boar, which was direftly put cff^ and about
half Way between the Scooner and Sloop, we
met the Scooner's Boat, and, according to dietf
Orders from KuJJel^ they put my Boy on Board
of me, and lb put away again to get i^ Board
their own Veflel.

After their Boat put away from us, I thought
I heard the Voice of my Mate, but was not cer-
tain, becauie he fpoke fo low, his Coti&ience
chedcing him, I iiippofe, for his leaving me fo
baiely. I caird to him, and faid Arthur, what
are you Tp^S ^o have me ? He anfwerM, Af.
IV bat ^ &id I, do ytm do it njoluntary^ or are you
forced? He anfwer*d faintly, lam forc'd^ ftUnk.
I laid, /r was very ivell. He called to me agaki^
and Ikid, He would defire me to write to bis Bro^
iber^ and yrrve bim an Account where be was^ if
ever I Jboutd bave an Opportunity. I told bim,
I did not know wbere bis Brother lin)d. He called
and faid. He kv^d in Carlingford. I told him, /
did not know wbere that was. He ^d, ih was in
Ireland. O^by^ faid I, you told me in Sarbadoa
that you was a Scotchman, and that all your
Briettds Md in Scotland. But he made me no
further Anfwer ^ but away they row'd towardis
their Veflel, and I towards the Sloop, and it be^
ing a very darJc, as well as a dole N^t^ it ^^ras

[pr]

its milch as ever I could do to ijbe her i this be^
ing the laft Time that I Ipoke to, or faw any dt
them, nor do I ever more defire to fee them, ex-
cept at fbme Place of Execution.

I fliipp*d this Man at Barbadoes^ and he told
me then>, that he had been Mate of a Sloop b^r
longing to Ibme Part of New-England^ but was
ftipwreck'd, and loft every Thing ^ and was al-^
moft naked when I firft met with hjm, not hav-»
log a Shirt, or any Thing elfe of Cloathing, to
fliifi in the Room of what he had on, 'till they
were wafli'd, neither had he any Moneys but
was out of Debt there I believe, becaule I ne-
ver heard of any Body's coming after him for
any Demands that Way, as is mual for Land-
lords, ^c. in thofe Parts in fuch Cafes 3 for as
foon as any of their Lodgers or Debtors are
ihipp'd on Board any Veflel, they make it their
Bufineis to find out the Mafter, and acquaint
him with their being Creditor to fuch a Perfon ^
and in Prefence of the faid Perfon procure a
Promiie, if they can, from the Mafter to keep
their Wages, as they fliall become due, in hia
Hands, or, at leaft, fo much as amounts to the
Debt, 'till his Return there, obliging the Debtor
•to affign Over to the Mafter an Order to author-
rife him fo to do, otherwife they will not fuffer
him to go off the Ifland. I bought him Cloaths
and Inftruments, with fuch other Neceflaries as I
thought might be abfolutely requilite for him to
the Performance of the Voyage. 1 obferv'd no-*
thing ^ in him tending to any of the common
Vices, too common among Seafareing Men, eP-
pecially thofe who have frequented thefe Parts j
to wit. Swearing, Drunkennefs, Debauchery,
t3c. He wis a pretended rigid Presbyterian, and
leem'd mighty averfe to the Church of England^
as eftablilh'd by La>«^, about which we hacTfeve-

t9«]

fdl Arguments. I do not remember, all the
Time that he was with me, to have heard him
Iwear ; and yet, as my biggeft Boy told me, af^
ter he had acquainted the Pirates of his Reiblu«
tion, (or rather returned to be a Pirate again, as
he^by his own Dilcourfe to then^^ manifefted)
then, it feems, he far exceeded the moft profli-
gate of them, both in the Frequency and Hor-
riblenefs of them ; and, as my Boys told me, was
almoft conftantly dnmk, while on Board the
Slo(^, after the Pirates had taken me.

But to proceed : My Boy and I got on Board
the Sloop, and found neitner Fire, nor Candle^
nor any Thing that we knew of on Board to
make the one or the other. I conld hear the
Water which the Sloop had in her, by her Mo-
tion with the Sea, rowl from one Side to the
other, as if Ihe had been almoft full of Water :
I askM the Boys when fhe had been laft pump'd,
and whether fhe had been then fiick'd dry ; they
told me. She had not been pumped thefe three
Days paft, and that (he had then been fuck*d
dry ; and they faid they would have pump'd her
ieveral Times fince, but the Pirates fwore at
them, and would not let them, faying. Damn
her, let her fink and be damn d, they had a Boitt
on Board fiilficient to carry them all to their own
Ships 5 and agreed to have cut a Hole through
her, or fire feveral Shot through her Bottom as
that Night, in order to fink her, and with the
Boat to go all on Board their own Veflel ; and
were confulting about the Manner of doing it,
juft as the Scooner called for them to fend the
Sloop's Boat on Board ; and they verily believed
fhe had been quitted, if not fonk by this Time,
if they had been let alone.

I made

[ 99l

t made fail: a Rope to the Maft for a Mainrope,
tod went down in the Hold to fee what Quantity
of Water was in the Sloop, and finding it not
above a Foot above the Ballaft, I was a little en-
couraged, though that vfh difinal enough, but
yet nMhing/nigb fb bad as at firft I thought it
was ; for, indeed, by the Noife that the Water
made;, with the Motion the Sea gave the Veflfel^
I thoughi: ihe had beoi half full at leaft ; but
finding it betto: than I expeAed, I was in Hopes
to frec^her ; and when once freed, we had little
Reafbn of doubting, but what we ihould be able,
whik our Strength held out, to keep her fb, ^till
it pleased God to fend us fbme Succour.

{ came upon Deck, and ask'd Potter^ my big-
geft Boy, if the Pumps were in order, or whe-
1^^ the Pirates had broke or put them out of
order-? He iaid, he thought not ^ fb I went to
work with them,, being the only Way to know j
) put the two Boys to one Pump, and I exer-
cised the other ; I bid them not ftrike with the
Pump, but to draw a long drawing Stroke, which
in a Manner delivers as much Water as ftriking,
cfpeciaily when there are not Hands to Spell (that
is, to take Turns while the others recover Breath)
beiides, it doth not tire fb fbon, and confequent-
ly would not make them fb drowthy as flriking
would. I inquired what drinking Water they
had on Board. Potter told me, he believ'd there
was not one Drop of firefli Water on Board, be-
caufe, he faid, all that was in the Sloop, except
one Hogfliead, was fent on Board the Pirates j
and after they came from on Board the Scooner,
the two Men that went in the Boat faid, Capt.
Kujfel ordered them to flave that, and not leave
one Drop of frelh Water on Board the Sloop.
But^ Sir^ faid he, / think they have done as bar-
i^oufiy by us in another Refped^ as in leaving us

. H 2 nsottbou\

Without Provtfions. Ay^ faid I, What is that ?
IVby^ faid he, they han)e taken all our Sails ^ except
the Jib and old Forefail that is bent, and that old
Mainfail that is good f^ nothings it is fo rotten.
What^ laid I, have they fervid us fo^ (making as •
tho* I had known nothing of the Matter, neither
did I but of the Mainfail, which Kujfel ordered
them to unbend, and bring away with them
when they came away from the Sloop.) iVellj
fays 1, never fear^ Boy^ I truft in God we Jhall do
well enough ftill^ in defpight of all their Malice.
Ay^ Ay J Sir^ fays the Boy, / do not fear it^ and
Mm heartily glad we are got clear of them, ^hey
often askd me to enter ^ and go along with them^
hut I would rather chufe to go with a Turk or In-
fidel : Bejides^ was I fure to perijhy I could not
ieave you^ when I confider how kind you have been
to me J and Jhall never forget it while I live : And
J wonder^ fays he, that. Mr. Hunter (J. e. the
'M2ite)Jhould be fo barbarous to leave you in this
Extremity^ as fome of the Pirates here on Board
told him^ for he had acquainted them how kind you
had been to him^ and they refused at firft to enter
him i and I believe they would not have let him
enter ^ if it had not been for Capt. Ruflel.

I fhall take Leave briefly to mention in this
Place fbme Account of this Boy : His Name is
Potter-^ apd he had ferv'd his Time to a Potter
at Kingfton upon Thames ^ and after, in a youths
ful Frolick, inconfiderately took a Fancy to go
to Sea, and in order thereto fpoke to a Man
who pretended to be a Crimp:^ i. e. one that ufed
to provide Sailors with Voyages, Boys to Ma-
ilers, i^c. and who undertook to help him to ond.
This Fellow {o managed the Matter, as to bind
hftn a Plantation-Servant for America for the
Term of five Years 3 and after the Boy was put
on Board the Ship, and found how he had been

trapannM, he began to repent of his Voyage ;
but they made« him believe they were at very
great Charges for the Crimp's Trouble and Pains,
and for his Lodging, Diet^ ^c. which they en-
hance to fuch a Sum, as they thought was above
his Purfe, and demanded to be reimbursM o^
before his Acquittal ^ fo that 'for want of Friends,
or thro' Shame to apply himfelf to them, he
was forc*d to acquiefce, and was carry'd to Bar"
hadoesy where he was to be fold ; and I under-
ftanding jhe Lad^s unhappy Cafe, upon his
Prayers, and Promifes what a good and faithful
Servant he would be, I bought his Time, and
paid twelve Pounds for him of that Country
Money: And, indeed, I always found him, nor
only true and faithful to my Interefl, but af-
fedlonate to my I^erfon, infomuch, that it rais'd
my Value for him, fo that J lookM upon him
:!rather as a Child or Relation, than as a bare
Servant.

But to return: In this Manner we pump'd
and talk'd, fometimes the one, and fometimes
the other, and gained upon the Veflel apace, in-
fomuch, that before Day-light we had fuck'd
her dry, and then we gave over. I forgot to
mention, that Ruffel, when he gave me the old
Musket, and the Cartridge of Powder, gave me
alfo two half Pound Papers of Tobacco, and
Potter finding a Ihort broken Pipe in the Cabbin,
I Imoak'd a Pipe, and lying too under my Fore-
fail all Night, when Day appeared I look'd all
about me, but loft Sight of the Pirates, who, I
dTuppofe, made Sail in the Night, not caring I
ftould know or fee which Way they bent their
Courfe, for , fear of giving an Information of
them y for they were prodigioufly afraid of meet-
ing with any of his Majefty's Ships, nor could
-^ey endure to hear any Talk of theip : Though

H 3 ^

*

as fecrct as they thought they had kept the De-
iign of their inteiided Voyage from me, yet I
perfeftly knew it to be to go diredly for the
Coaft of Guinea^ and to fetch as far to Wind-
>¥ard as they could, and then to cruife along
that Coaft, and then ftretch over on the Coaft
of BrafiL where th<fy promised themielves Moun-
tains ot Treafure , from thence along the
Coaft of Guana^ and fb down among the Iflands,
and to be at the latter End of the Spring on the .
Coaft of North Americaj namely, Carolina^ Vir-
giniaj New^Tork^ New-England^ and fb by the
Summer, to be on the Coaft of Newfoundland ;
Ktijfel being the chief Scheme Projedor in the
Company.

As fbon as the Day broke out clear, I went to
work, to find out, whether, by Chance or Defign,
they had left on Board any Thing fitting to eat or
drink. I made my firft Search in the Cabbin,
and fwept out of all the Bread-lockers, near the
Crown of my Hat full of Duft and Crumbs toge-
ther, of Bisket, which I fecur'd very fafe 3 and,
in another Locker, I found four or five Hands
of Tobacco, which, with the Pound given me by
'Rujfel^ made up a good Stock of that Commodi-
ty. I found alio, four or five fhort broken Pipes
about the Cabbin, and they left my Fore-fiaff^
with only the ^hirty-crofs^ having, as I fuppofe,
flung the other Crofles over-board. They left
me alfo my Bedding, that being ufelefs to them,
there being not above three or four in any of the
Ships, that lay either in a Cabbin or Hammock,
namely, the Captain, Mafter, Steward, and Gun-
ner, the reft kennelling like Hounds on Deck, or
where they could.

From the Cabbin, I went into tfie Hold^ and
rummaged there, and found in one Hogflie^id,^^
bout the Quantity of ten Gallortsj , a$ near ^ I

C '05 3

could gue(&| of Rum, and, in a Rice Cask, be-
tween 20 and 3 o Pound of Rice ; and, fearching
farther, I found a fmall Renmant of Flower in
the Bottom of a Flower Cask. I tried, aiid
drained all the Water Casks, and found that to
be our icarcefl: Commodity, not being ^ole to
drain out of all of them, above two 6r three
Pints. •

Having ften all my Store of Proyifions, and
what I had, under God, to truft to of that Kind,
I proceeded next to examine what Condition my
Sails were in ; and, I cannot fay, but I took it
m^re barbarous of them, to take my Sails fi*om
me, than their turning me away without Water
or Provifions 5 at leaft, I verily believe Rujfel ,
thought I had not one Mouthful of any Sort of
Eauble, nor one Drop o£ Water ^ they left me
the fame Jit^ that was bent, and an old Fore-
Sail, and an cAd Main-Sail that was much rent,
torn, and rotten : I haled it upon Deck, and
jpread it, but was at a fad iofs, how to conmve to
mend it. I went down into the Cabbin, to lee
whether they had left any Needles or Twine, and
found in the Twine-Locker, half a Dozen Skeins
of Twine, but not one Sail-Needle. Potter, in
the mean Time, was hunting in the Mens Chefts
and Lockers in the Steerage, and found in one of
them, fix Needles, and about a Pound and a half
of Twini, and two Pawms y at which, I was ve-
ry glad, and we went to work to mend the Main-
Sail, but not having Stuff enough on Bosurd, I
cut off the firft Reef, and tabled down the Foot
of it again, and fbwed on the Bolt-Rope, and,
with what I cut off, I mended it as far as it would
go, and what more more was wanting, we mended
with fbme old Canvas, which lay in the Mate's
Cabbin, underneath his Bed, which, by good luck,
was neither taken away, nor hove over-board.

H4 ^^

• • •

Wc were three Days fixing and mending thfe
Main-Sail, before we could fit it fo as to bend it ;
during which Time, we had light Winds, C^lms,
with variable Airs of Wind, cloudy, and moftly
lovercaft by Day, but clear and Star-light com-
monly by Night, but faw nothing like a Veffel all
this Time, which was the chief and principal
Thing we looked out for.

The fourth Day in the Morning, we bent the

^ Main-Sail, but it proving calm, did not let it,
but lay driving and rowling in the, Sea, with only
the Fore-Sail up, aijd had been fo ever fince we
were left by the Pirates ; our daily Food was raw

. Flower, or Rice, with a Dram of Rum ; laying
up lafe, our little Stock of Water, till I had a
little idle Time, and then I got fome Flower up,
and made as much Dough as my Water would,
of which I made Cakes, and baked them- on the
Bottom of an iron Pot which I had on Board ^
and, after I had baked all, which was four little
Cakes, I took one, and divided it among us three,
but Potter was very unwilling to eat any, defiring
me, to keep the Bread all for myfel^ to take a
Dram with, and faid, he and the little Boy
could eat raw Rice and Flower well enough, and
that it agreed very well with him, and fo little

?ack faid too, and that they had not luffer'd any
hing as yet, either as to Hunger or Thirft. I
told them, they muft take but a very little Rum
to get down their Flower or Rice, for too much
would make them dry 3 they faid, they would not :
fo we eat our Cake, and each of us took a fmall
Dram of Rum, and {o had the beft Meal that I
made, fince I c^me lafl on board of the Sloop,

This Night, I. took two feveral Obfervations,
one by the North Star, the other, by the Cocks
Foot, and found myfelf in feventeen Degrees of
T^prth Latitude, there being fix Minutes Difife-

t r^nce

C ^05 3

rcncc between the two Obfervations, but whether
this happened by theSett of the Current, the Eye,
Horizon, or Declination of the Stars^ I ihall not
now examine nor determine. I had asked the
Matter of the Scooner, that Night I came away
from them, What Diftance he reckoned he was
from the Ifland of St. Antonia ? and he told me,
about fixty-five, or feventy Leagues, and the
Ifland bore Eaft, half a Point fbiitherly.

Next Day we had a frefli Trade, and I began
to be in a Doubt which Way to endeavour for j
Guinea being the nigheft and eafieft Land to
fetch, elpecially with a Trade, or even moft
Winds ; but I thought to mylelf. What can I do
when I come there ? I can neither have Credit,
nor, if I had, could I, but by a meer Chance,
except on Board a Ship, meet with any Thing
there to refit me.

To go for Barbadoes was a long Run, and the
Seafon being then fo fubjeik to Calms, and moft-
ly light Winds, it might be a very tedious and
long Run thither. If I endeavoured to run for
the Iflaijd^ of the Cape de Verd^ I muft beat
it up to Windward, if a Trade Wind continued,
which would alfo be a long Time effeding 3 and
befides, my Sails, all but the Jib, were fo bad,
that it would be hazardous, if not impoffible, to
make them hold out to beat up fixty or feventy
Leagues right in the Wind's Eye 5 but thole
Iflands of the Cape de Verd being the nigheft
Land by far^ the Cqaft of Guinea^ which
probably I might fetch, being the Diftance
of about two hundred Leagues, and Barbadoes^
the nigheft Ifland of America to us, being
little lefs than fix hundred Leagues diftant
from us ; whereas the Cape de Verd Iflands,
as I faid before, were not above . feventy
Leagues diftanf at moft, and the Winds in-

[ ,o6 ]

cllnable to (hifting, I concluded with myiel^ ta
endeavour for any one of thofe lilands, but
chiefly that of St. Nicbotas.

Tm Trade blowing now about the North
Korth-Eaft Point, I fet Sail, and ftood to the
Baftward with my Larboard Tack on Board, by
which I fliortenM my Way to both the nigheft
Lands to me at once, namely the Iflands, and
the G)aft of Guinea ; £o that if the Trade held
frelh, in about a Week^s Time, I fhould be upon
the Coafl: of Guinea s and if I run three or tour
Days as we now lay up, and then, if the Wind
fliould veer to the Eaftward, or Eaft Southerly,
then I fiiould have a fair Chance, if not to fetch
them, yet to fetch very nigh them ; and I muft
own, that only the Sight of Land would have
been at this Time very pleafant and reviving to
our Hopes, which I cannot fay as yet were any
Thing feintifli.

So fteering Eaft-and-by-North, Eafl, Eaft-
and-by-South, and Eafl-South-Eaft, according
as the Winds would fufier us, I kept my Luff as
nigh as with a full fair {landing Sail ihe would
lie, being oblig'd not to touch or hank her up in
the Wind, becaufe of my Mainfail's being IcC
fen'd, as I mention'd before, by Reafon I could
not get Canvas to mend it withal, and therefore
it may eafily be conceived, that flie neither did
hold the Wind, nor make the Way through,
which ihe would have done, had not her Sails
been leflen'd.

We failM with a fteady frefli moderate Gale of
Wind, from ten a-Qock in the Morning 'till
about eleven that Night, and then the Wind be-
gan to die away, infbmuch, that between two
and three in the Morning,, it fell flat Calm, and
fo continu d ail the Day following 'till about ihe
in the Alternoon j af&r which Time, we ba4

fometimes

I ^«7 ]

fbmetimes light Airs of Wind, variable from' the
North Weft, round to the Weftward, and fb to
the Southward, and to the South-South-Eaft,
with Thunder and Lightmng, and it look'd as
if there was a ^um(m brewing ; but we had
none, neither had we any Rain, though it looked
very likely, and we very much hoped and long*d
for it, but in vain. Tnofc variable light Airs of
Wind would hold fbmetimes half an Hour, other
ibme left ; fbme of them would be gorte before
we could get the Sloop's Head the right Way to
make Ufe of them ; and between thoft Airs be
flat Calm, one Hour between, Ibme two Hours,
others two and a half, three, four, five, or fix
Hours Calm 5 and this Sort of Weather held us.
better than two Days. We made the beft Ad-
vantage we could to get as much as pofiible to
the Eaftward ; and in thefe two or three Days
we got about twenty-five Leagues, according to
my Judgment, to the Eaftward , and, by Ob-
fervation, I found myfelf in fixtecn Degrees and
fifty-fix Minutes of North Latitude, and, by
Computation, the Ifland of St. ylnthony bore
about forty-fix Leagues Difl:ance.

I ought before to have acquainted the Reader,
That it was 0^e?^^r the 19th, 1722, that I was
taken by the Pirates, and the 29th Day of the
fame Month, they difoharg'd mc, ana I have
brought down my Relation to the 7th ofNovetn^
her ; in the Afternoon of which it falling Cafan^
I lowered all my Sails, and let her lie.

The Night following we had one fmart Show-
er of Rain, which made us fall to work to iave
every Drop we couW^ with as much Care and
Caution, as an Alchymift would ufe in preparing
his Grand Arcanum ^ and, by that Means, fav'd
about a Gallon, befides fbme Draughts which

we drank, and eat fbme Rice with it*

[ 108]

We had two or three other finall Showers,
but fcarce enough thoroughly to wet the Deck,
and therefore could lave no Water from them.
We had alfo a great deal of Thunder and
Lightening, but efpecially in the great Shower.

About four a-Clock in the Morning, which
was the 8th Day of November ^ it cleared up, but
continued calm, and the Sea very fmooth : W heii
Day broke out I Ipread the Mainfail, and dry'd
that and the Forelail, both which wanted mend-
ing again ; and as fbon as the Mainiail was dry
enough to fow, I began lipon that firft, which
took me up the moft Part of the Day : In the
mean Time, I or4er*d a Fire to be made, and
boiling fome Flower in fome of the Water which
we had faved, we made a little Pap, which we
cat, and it went down moft Iweetly, taking a
Dram of Rum after it, and were very thankful
to Providence for this delicious Meal, it being
very warm to our Stomachs. I refolvM to lave
the reft of the Water for the like Occafion, that
we might relrelh our Spirits with fo comfortable
a Recruit, when we might grow feint by eating
of the raw Rice or Flower.

It ftiU continued calm, with light Cat-Skins^ as
we commonly term them in the Sea Dialeft,
w^iich' are light Airs of Wind, not Ipreading
perhaps above half a Mile, or fome of them
aboye the Quantity of an Acre of Ground on
the Water; fome perhaps reaching you, but
dying away before you could let your Sails, or
get your Veflel the right Way with her Head ;
fome dying away before they reach you, fome
^oing but juft paft you, ^pd differ from a Breefe^
in that the latter Ipreads, or blows all over beyond
what your Sight can reach, at leaft on one Side ,
jboth Dclng however foft Winds, running on the
]Pace of the Sea, iQoft commonly after, ar m a

C ^o$> ]

Calm, misiking, as it were, a gentle Trepidation
6r Curling on the Surface of the Sea, and there-
by giving the Part it ftrikes upon a different Hue
or Afpcft, infbmuch, that you may fee them at
a confiderable Diftance, before they reach you.
Both thefe differ from a Gale in the Sea Notion, -
in the Strength of the latter : For a Breefe blow-
ing conftant and a little brisk, it then lofes its
Name with us, and is call'd a Gale of Wind^ and
is diftingnifh'd into moderate^ bard^ or taut^ in
Proportion to the Strength it hath increased to.
And this Definition ot a Catskin^ Breefe^ and
Gale^ I thought proper to give for the Sake of
fuch of my Readers, who are not acquainted
with the Sea Language.

After I had mended up the Mainfail, I fixed
the Forefail as well as I could, and about five a-
Clock in the Afternoon, Nov. lo, a moderate
Gale ^rung up at Eaft, and frelhen'd up, and
veerM to the Eafl:-South-Eafl, and about ten or
eleven at Night to the South-Eafl. I made Sail
with the Starboard Tack on Board to the North-
North-Eafl, North-Eaft, and Eaft-North-Eaft,
according as the Wind veerM, keeping my Luff^
and endeavouring to get to the Eaftward all that
I could 5 for all that I gainM to that Point, was
{o much gainM to Windward.

The Gale continued firelh, yet moderate, fbme-
times cloudy, fbmetimes overcaft, but often-
times in the Night clear, till the 12th Day;
and then the Wind backed to the Ealbvard, and
by ten or eleven at Night backed to the North-
Eaft, and North-Eaft-and-by-North, that being
the true Trade, which caus d me to put about,
and ftand to the South-Eaftward, and about two
a-Clock in the Morning, Nov. 13. I obferv'd the
North Star, and found myfelf in 19 Degrees and
37 Minutes North Latitude.

C »»<? 3

I ftretch'd away to the South Eaftward *tiil the
x6th Day, and about ten in the Forenoon we
iaw St. Anthony^ which then bore from us Eaft,
half, a Point northeriy, and I judg'd we were
about 1 8 or 19 X.eague$ diftant from it, and it
jailing calm, we lay with our Sails all down, to
&ve them from flapping.

The Cahn cominuing all Bay, and the Sea be*
ing venr ihiooth, about one or two in the Afrer-
noon Potter {aw a Shark, a voracious Fifli, the
Defcription of which is fb conunon, that I fhali
not trouble my Reader with it. I look'd about,
and faw four more, but one fwindging one, fwam
clofe up along Side, and almoft even with the
Waters Edge. Come^ Conw^ faid I, we wiU^ with
God's Leave^ have bim by-and-by, Ay^ *Sr, laid
the Boy, // we had our Shark-Hook^ and a Piec^
cjf Beef or Pork, No Matter^ ftid I, we will h^ve
iim prefently. So I got fbme Rags of feveral
Colours, and made them &{): together^ ^being
about the Bulk of a three or four Pound Piece
of Meat, knowing there is hardly any Thing but
what the Sharks will fhap at, and having made it
fail to the End of a Rope, hove it over Board,
and order'd the Boy to tend it as a Bait,or Decoy.
and as the Shark came nigh it, to hale it up, ana
only plav with him, to keep him about the Vefi.
fcl, while I got ready another Rope, at the End
of which I made a running bowling Knot, and
the Nooie fb as to keep it open with one iHand,
lowering the under Part beneath the Surface of
the Water about two or three Foot, which was
eafily done, by Reafon it was flat Calm, and the
Velfel had no Way at all, holding with my orfxer
Hand the fingle Part of the Rope, ready when
the Shark had wholly got his Head through the

Noofe^

C •«• ]

Nobfe, to hak, and thereby jam die rdnningf
Knot taut about him, the Boy all the Time pkiy«
ing with the Bait befere the Nooie.

This fell out according to out DdGre ; for the
Shark coining tip, and endeavouring to get the
Bait, enter'd his Head through the Stiare ; but I,
bein^ over-«ager, with a fudden Jirk, jamm'd
the Noofeclofe, before the Neck Fins were got
dirough, and haled his Head above Water as
high as we could, making faft tbeRope^ bat in
two or three Plunges he flippM his Head out, and
immediatedy dar^, as it were, out of Sight,
after whom aU the other Sharks purfued, tii^-
kigj as 1 iuppofe, he had got fome Prize.

i waBs not a little concoti'd at his £fa^>e, and
blamM myieUf for bdag fo hafty, as not to wadt
'till his Head and Throat Fins had paisM throng ^
the Spare before i had jkmm'd it s but my C^
cern was difSpated by the ireih Appearance of
the fame l^iarks, as I fuppos'd, being the fame
Number, and, as nigh as 1 could gueft, of the
fame Size j upon which I hove the Bait ova*-
board again, and fix'd my Snare as at firft, and,
as I fiippos'd by his Bignefs, the fame Shark
again mawle to the Bait, but fliunn'd the Snare,
and fo continued playing about it near three
Quarters of an Hour, and then he darted at the
Bait with fuch Swiftnefs, as if he had a
Defign, either to pals the Noofe, or to make
fure of the Bait, which he had been deluded
with fo long. 1 had as much Eagernels to catdfi
him, as he had to catch the Bait, and my form^
Overfight made me more wary and dextrous,
and as foon as I Judg'd him enter'd far enough
in the Noofe, I jamm'd the Snare by a fudden
Jirk of the Rope, and haled him up fo high,
that his Head, with about a Quarter of his Bo-
dy, was above Water, and finding him well

ftcar'd, I let him hang fb, and gave him Tinidf
to tire himfelf^ by beating againft the Veflelj
which he did now and then pretty hard.

When he had lain fb about an Hour, he began
to be pretty quietj now and then ftriking and
flouncing, but very weak and fiiint, fo that I
. thought I might venture to get him in, or, at
leaft, take him wholly out of the Water, and
making a running bowling Knot on the End of
another Rope, I caft it oyer his Tail Fin ^ I jammed
it clofe, and haled his Tail alfb above Witer^ and
made it faft. He lay as if he had been dead, for
about three or four Minutes, and then began to
ftrike (b hard with his Tail, that at every Stroke
he made, the Veflel (hook, and fearing it would
do it harm, I lower'd his Tail dowriin the Watet
again, and clapp'd a Tackle on the Rope that
was about his Throat, he being fo heavy, we
could not hale him by Hands any higher, and
hoifled him up fb, that about a Foot and a
half of the Tail Part, was in the Water^ and let
him hang till he feemed to be almoft dead, and
then I hoifted him firft by one End, and . then by
the other, with the Tackle, till we got him in
upon Deck, and then he began again to ftrike fo
hard with his Tail, as if he would have beat the
Deck down, which I fbon put a Stop to, by cut-
ting off about a Foot of his Tail Part, in which
lies moft of this Fifli's Strength : He then lay pret-
ty quiet, and I put an End of a Boot-hook Staflf
into his Mouth, which he crufliM to Splinters,
With as much Eafe, as one could fqueeze an Egg-
fheU.

On cutting the Belly open, I fbund five yo^ng
Ones, all ajive, about the Bignefs of a fihati
Whiting i tho' I have hitherto calFd it He^ acc6rd-
ing to an old Rule I had been taught at School,

) CO

. C"5]

to reckon any Nouns whofe Gender, by the Rules
of Grammar, I could not find out, Mafculin€.

She had a very fine Liver, not blackifli,nor
darkreddifh. as moft large Sharks have, but of a
fair gray Colour, which I preferv'd. The whole
I-ength of the Shark, was fbmething more than
eleven Foot and a half, and it muft needs be near
upon 300 Weight. J ftruck a Light by Help of
the old Gun thztKuffel gave meat parting, which
I then thought a ufelefs Prefent, and accepted it
cmly, becauie I dutftdono otherwife ^ but having
neither Tinder-Box, nor Steel left me, it would
have been impoilible for us to get Fire without it ;
and though they left me the two Compafles that
were in the Beetacle^ there was not one Inch of
Candle ; which, however, in failing upon a Wind
I did not much matter, except when any light
Air, Breefe, or Catskin, came in the Night, and
the Sky was overcaft, and no Stars to be feen,
more efpecially if it was large, as any Way from
the weftern Hank, in which Cafe 1 was forced ta
fiipply the want of Candle, by blowing a Coal of
Fire, whereby I could difcem the Compafs fo, as
to get her Head the right Way.

Having, as I faid, flruck a Light, and caufed
a Fire to be made ^ the Pot was put on, with Sea
Water, and, as foon as our Fifti was boiled, we
cat heartily of it. After which, I cut the greateft
Part of the Shark into thin long Slices, and dried
it in the. Sun to preferve it, having no Salt on
board.

About ten o' the Clock at Night, it looked
black to the weflward Board, and lightened much
that Way, and about eleven, came up a light Air
of Wind at Wefl North- Wefl, increafing to a
moderate light Gale. I kept the Fire in, to have
a Coal always in readinefs, that I nught fee the
Compaii every now and then, and fteer'd Eafl

C"4].

'North-Eaft, choofing tobe well to the Nortli-
ward, to be ready if the Trade- wind Ihould blow,
which is moftly North North-£aft and North*
Eaft and by North.

It ftill continuing black, and to lighten much in
the werftern Board, about Midnight it began to
Thunder, and rained a fmart Shower, of which,
we iav'd about three Gallons ^ and about four
o' the Clock in the Morning, it dearM up, and
the Stars fhewM thenifelves, which iav'd me the
Trouble of blowing a Coal to fee the Compafs.

It continuing a fine pleafant fireih Gale, veering
to the North-Wefl ^ as fbon as it was Day, I fet
the liland of St. Anthony^ which *bore firom me
South South-Eafl, about ten Leagues, the Gale
continuing ftiU ; but dying away by Degrees,
about eleven in the Forenoon, Novenw. 1 7, it feH
flat calm again, at which Time, St. Anthony bore
South and by Weft, about eight Leagues diftant.

I broil'd u>me of the Fifli tor BresSc&ft, and eat
of it pretty heartily, which made us all very dry,
but thank God we had a good Stock of Water, fb
that now we could venture to drink a little. I
made them put the Pot on, with fbme frefli Wa-^
ter, and a little R ice to boil, and when the Rice
was a little fbft, I had it thicken'd with Flower,
and then put a Piece of the Shark's Liver into
it, fhred fmall, which fbon diflblv'd in it mofUy
to oil, as Fifh Livers generally do ; and this fervid
us in the Room of Butter in our Hafly-pudding,
which we Sailors ufually call Pap, of which, we
made a hearty an^ pleafant Meal ^ and, as we
had the Sight of Land, our Hopes were much re-
vived. I lower'd down all my Sails, and over-
haled them, and mended what was amifs, the
Calm continuing till two o' the Qock the Morning
following, and it being a clear ierene Star-lighe
Night.

['■5],

Afterwards a Gale fprung up at South-South*
Weft, and veer'd to the Weft-North-Weft, I
ftill fteering £aft-North-£aft ; and about eight
a^CIock in the Morning, Nov. i8, it fell caun.
and continued fb all that Day, and 'till nine o
Clock at Night, intermixt with light infignificant
Airs, and Otskins. The Wind frelhenM up to a
Gale about ten at Night, with Thunder and
Lightning . from the North-North- Weft Board^
as was the Wind aUb. We had feveral finau
Showers of Rain, but fb fmall, that we could not
lave any Water worn them , and as it thundered
pretty much, and looked very black and thick
over the Illand of St. Anthony^ we judg'd that
there fell abundance of Rain that Night there,
which we heartily grudged them, and had rather
it had fallen where we were, tho' we had under^^
gone a wet Jacket for it, and had no Cloaths to
mift us.

In the Morning of Nov. 19, when the Day
cleared, we could very plainly fee, St. Antbonyy
St. Vincent^ St. Lucia^ ^erra Branca ^ and the
Mmte Gourda^ which is the higheft Mountain of
the Ifland of St. Nicholas^ lying on the North-
Weft Side of it, but a good Way up in the Land,
and may be feen from any Side of the Ifland,
at about nine or ten Leagues Diftance, in the
Form of a flattifh Sugar-Loaf ^ it bore from ua
South-South-Eaft about ten Leagues diftant.

About £)ur in the Afiremoon ^rung up a light
Gale at North-North-Eaft, and it looked hazy to
Windward, and. very like a true Trade ^ and t
was the ratfier inducM to think it fb, becaufe it
was the Time of Year for the true Trades to
blow, and for the moft Part to hold ftrong, from
their firft coming, 'tUl towards the latter Part of
March i and not knowing but the Wind migh^
as is very ufual^ veer to the North-Ea&^ "Ei2&*

I 2 ^ot^

[ "O

North-Eaft, or perhaps further, and being defi-
tdus to fetch the Ifland of St. Nicholas^ rather
tha(i any of the other Iflands, becaufe I was well
acquainted there, and it was the likelieft Place to
get a Mainfail at, by Realbft they ^in the beft
there ^ I therefore kept my Luff, and fteer'd
away Eaft, which* I was fure would carry me a
good Diftance to Windward of the Ifland ^ fb
that if the true Trade held, I fhould not fear go-
ing to Windward of it, and be thereby enabled
to chufe, as well as to make a large Wind to
which Road I likM beft to anchor in.

Befides, as I knew that the Pirates had taken
he Prieft's Sloop, I was fure, if I could get
there, I Ihould not want what Freight I could in
Reafbn defire, as foon as I could refit, and put
myfelf into a Pofture to go to the Ifle of Sal ;
for I was fure the Prieft, for his own Intereft,
tvould do all that by in his Power to aflift me ;
there being hardly a Family on the Ifland,
but what had a Relation then on the Ifland of
Sal^ where they all apprehended they might pro-
bably perifli, before another Occafion ofier'd, if
I did not go.

The Gale continuing all Night, about four o*
Clock in the Morning I edgM away more to the
Southward, and about eight it fell calm *till
Noon, but was very hazy, infbmuch, that I
could fee no Land. Between twelve and one in
the Afternoon, Nov. 20, fprung up a Gale at
North-Eaft, which increafmg, foon cleared the
Air, fb that! faw the Ifland of *». Nicholas ^ the
Eaft Point bearing Weft-South-Weft, and, by
Suppofition, about eight or nine Leagues diftant.
I crowded all the Sail^ that -I could make to get
in to an Anchor before Night, the Wind flill in-
creafing. About five in the Evening I doubled
the Eaft Point of the Ifland j after which, when

I came

["7]

I came to luff up to keep the Land aboard, I
found the Wind more Northerly, with very har4
Flaws coming down the deep Gullies.

It being late in the Evening, and likely to
prove, as indeed it did, a clofe Night, ana not
having Day-light enough to gain, as I intended,
the Road of Paragbeefi^ but fearing I might niifi
it in the Night, the high Lands being lb very
like one another, I refblv'd to anchor in Currifal
Road, it being nigher, as likewife to get ofFlbme
Water, there being none to be had within two
lyiilcs of Paragbeeji.

1 was forced to make a Board or two, to fetch
into the anchoring Place, and anchored in fixteen
Fathom Water, about a Quarter of a Mile from
the Shore, juflr about dusknh ^ and faw a Fire and
feme People on the Shore.

After we had ftowM our Sails, I hoiftedthe Boat
out to get in the End of the Cable which the Pi-
rates had flipt, and put a Buoy on the Cable Er.d,
having difcernM it and the Buoy on the Anchor
before I anchored, and for that Rcafbn let go my
Anchor nigh enough to it to get the End of it on
Board. In order to which, I took a Quoil or
two of (mall Rope with me in the Boat, to make
one End faft to the Cable End, and to bring the?
other on Board ^ and fb by the finall Rope to
hale or heave the Cable on Board the Sloop, and
ride 'moor'd 'till I thought proper to move from-
rfience 3 but being fo few Hands, we were fb
long a getting the Boat out, that Night came on,
and it wa« fo dark, that I could not, with all my
Diligence, find the Buoy s and fo was forc'd to
come on Board again with die Boat, without
effecting my Defign.

Potter then requefted me to let him (cull the
Boat afhore to get a Cag of Water, which I con*-'
lented to^ but bid him be fore not to make any

I 3 ^wj

Stay at all afliore, but come pfT as fbon as he
haa got his Cask filled, which could not be IcMigp
the Water being clofe to the Sea Side.

Soon after he was gone with the Boat, I was
taken very ill with Faintnefs aii^ Trembling at
Heart, inibmuch, that I had much ado to get
down to my Cabbin, which I attributed to my
Overwatching and Working to get the Veflcl in,
fuid to our Drowthinefs the preening Day, which
was more exceffive than I had experienced ever
fmce we parted with the Pirates. I bid the little
Boy Jack keep a •good Look-out fi>r the Boat,
and have a Rope i^^dv to heave to her when fhe
came off; and to be iure not to &11 afleep : All
which he promis'd to obferve. I had not long
liUn down on my Bed, befere I fell bSt afleep ;
aind waking in a Surprize, I call'd to the little
Boy, who not anfwering, I turned out, and came
vpon Deck, and found him ia&. afleep in the
Gangmay^ I awak'd him, and askM him, If the
Boat was come on Board ? He told me No ; and
^looking about me, I could but juil fee the Ifland.
This was as nigh as I could gueis between twelve
and one a-Clodc, and I was not a little fiirpriz^d
to fee myfelf thus again expos'd to the Sea, and
that in a much wor^ Condition than befcH'e ; my
Spirits and Strength being much waflred; my
jielp gone ; the Sloop daily growing more leaky j
depriv d of my Boat, and my Thirft very greati
which perhaps was increased by the Hopes I had
of getting ibme Water, as well as owing to the
grieat Fatigue of the preceding Pay ; but know-^
ing it in vain to deipair, I retolv'd to do what I
could, and depend upon Providence for the reft :
However, I had two tough Jobs to manage, to
wit, to heave the Anchor up, there being a whole
Cable out to the better Bnd ^ and to pump the
yjmt 01M9 whifh wa« iQ iome Places above the

r "9 ]

Ballaft : And the latter being the more danger*
ousy I concluded to begin with that firft, biuow*
ing, that if I could fuck her dry, I ihould be in
Hopes to keep her fb. Accordkigly I went to
work, and pump'd about half an Hour, ill
which Time I gain*d upon her confideribly, and
refting a while, took the other half Hour's Spell ;
after which I refted again, and imoak'd a Pipe of
Tobacco, and took a Dr^ of Rum with a lit-
tle raw Rice, and then fell to my Work of Piunp-
ing, and in five or fix good Spells mor/e, I fuck d
her ; and thpn immediately apply'd myfelf to
heave in the Cable ; and to enaole the little Boy
to hold on, I made him a Jigger with a BlocK
fixM to the Cable, and a Rope reev'd rfirough it^
fb that having a double Purchale, he made ihift
to hold on ^ tho* it was very tedious and flow. I
hove up till al^out half the Cable was in, and
then I went and took a Spell at the Pump, and
pump'd her out dry ; after which I refted, took
a Dram, and finoak'd half a Pipe of Tobacco,
and then went to heaving up the Anchor again,
then to the Pump again, and the next Spell I
got the Anchor up, and ftowM it with the Pawm
over the Gunnel j after which I let Sail, and the
Trade-Wind continuing to blow, I ftretch'd to
the North-Weft, finding that I was able to keep
the Sloop free, though fhe made a great deal of
Water ; and I think I never ft>und myfelf hear-
tier or ftronger in all my Life. It was a great
Concern to me to think of leaving my Boy and
Boat at St. Nicholas^ befides the Hopes ol fiip-
plying myfelf with a Sail, which I could not ex-
peift at any of the other Iflands , neither could I
propofe any Thing at any of the other Iflands,
but the iaving mine and tne Boy's Life, by run»
ning the Sloop on Shore in fbme convenient
Place i having no Boat to go aftiorc for Water,

I 4 w

[ no ]

or to get any of the Natives to go with ihe^ for
I could not expedt that any of them would ven-
ture to fwim off to me, without Ibme previous
Converfation, or Acquaintance, for fear I fhould
be lurking there to fteal Ibme of them away :
Wherefore being determined to get to the Ifland
of St. Nicholas J I ftretch'd, as I laid before, to
the North-Weft, and ftood till I brought the
South-Weft Point of the Ifland North-North-
Eaft from me about the Diftance of fix Leagues,
and then I tack'd and ft^od to the Eaftward till
I came a-breaft of Currifal^ it being then about
fix in the Evening, and bearing North, diftant
about feven Leagues 3 and falling calm in a little
Time after, I lowered down all the Sails, and let
her lie while that held, which was all Night, and
till between eight and nine a^-Clock the next
Day.

I was tedious dry, but had no Help nor Means
to quench it ; and durft not eat any of the dry*d
Filh, becaufe it made me more thirfty, as I
thought, than if it had. been lalted.

This feem'd to me the moft irkfome Situation
I had yet been in ^ for I was now, as it were,
alone, naving little or no Help in the little Boy,
imlefs to hold the Helm while I was at the Pump,
which was every half Hour, or oftner, or while
I was doing any other Bufinefs 3 not daring to
lije down to take a N^, except a (hort one which
I ventured to take during the Calna.

I finoakM a Pipe of Tobacco or two, and alio
took a Dram, with a little Rice s and about nine
o'clock in the Morning, Nov, 22, ibme finall
Catskins came on, and towards Noon fprung up
a Breefe at North-Eaft : I then made Sail, and
ftood to the North-North-Weft, and hoped to
fetch Paragbeefi with that Board ^ but the Lee-
714? beipg made, I fclj Ihort by half a League,

and

and fearing to be put again to! Leeward of the
Ifland, and the Soy and I not being able to
work the Sloop as we ought, I was refblv'd to
fetch in with any Anchoring-Place I could fetch,
and ftretching in till I got the Shore clofe on
Board, 1 then edg'd away to a landy Bay, call'd '
by the Natives Puttacko^ where I anchor d in fix
Fathom Water, in clear fandy Ground.

I had hardly been at an Anchor an Hour, when
a Black came down to the Water-Side, and call'd
to me. I anfwer'd him again. He &id fbme-
thing, and wav'd a long Pole, which he had
with him ; but the Wind blowing frefh, I could
hear nothing that he faid to underftand it, only
Logo^ which, in their Language, is as much as
to lay, prefently^ or by-^andrby. He went away ;
and in about half an Hour, another Black came
down to the Water-Side, and waving his long
StafE^ as the other had done, iaid fbmething, but
1 could hear only, Logo^ Prefio 3 and away he
went.

I gave God Thanks for his Mercy, that I was
once more got to an Anchor 3 and hoped my Boy
would get iome of the Inhabitants to help him
to bring the BcJat from Currifal ^ but not ex-
pefting him till the next Morning, I tended the
Pump, in the Intervals fmoaking a Pipe of To-
bacco, ^c. About Sun-fet I faw a imall Boat
come from Paragheefi^ with leveral Blacks in her,
rowing towards us, at which I was not a little
rejoiced.

They came on Board to the Number of fevenj
all lufty ftout young Fellows, and brought with
them two ten Gallon Casks full of Water, and
bid me drink heartily of it. I drank twice j
;ind they urging me to drink again, I told them,
I had enough y at which they feem'd to admire j
^4 one of them laid, If he h?i4 been ib lotv^

C lit ]

widiont Water, he could drifik one of thoie ten
Gallon Casks ot Water himfelf befere he fhordd
be fatisfyU They told me, ^af the Prieft and
Governor of St. Nicholas bad fent tbem on Board
with tiat link Boat^ which was the Priefi% to
aff^ me to get my Sloop up to Paraghecfi, in order
to fecure cer^ this being a very foul Koad^ and
open to the Eafterly Wims^ which were very fre^-
quent at this f^me of the Tear^ and always made
fuch a Sea in this Bay^ that it would be next to
impoffible for the Vejfel to be fafe there ; and that
the funken Rocks f which lay a large Stones-Caft
from the Shore J were fo Jharp^ that the beft Swim--
tner on that I/land could have no Hopes to fa^e
himfelf if the Veffeljhould be put from her Anchor.
I told them, / would ft ay till my Servant came to
me from Currilal with the Boat.

They told me, S^at could not be this Fortnight
or three Weeks^ the Wind beingjet in a ftrong
Srade^ which commonly at this ^ime of the Tear^
blew hard^ and continued long : ^hat they were fent
by the Prieft and Govemour to help me^ and they
thought it a very good Opportunity to get up to Para*
gheefi, as foon as the windward (Current was made^
which would be in an Hour or two : fhat they were
Homo's de Mare (/. e. Seamen) and two of them
underftood the Sea very well^ and were Pilots.
Which is a Title they give to any of their own
People that can fteer or teke Charge of any of their
little Boats that go a Fifhing. They told me, /
need not be concerned at my Bo/s not being on boards
for they were bred up Seamen from their Infancy j
aud could work the Sloop up to the Port o/Paraghe^
or any where to the other Jftandsy and would not have
me trouble myfelf about ity hutfmoak my Pipe^ or go
mtd take my Keft^ for they would take Charge of we
Veffek and get her into the Portj and moor her J(rfe j
JF^9 wA imy^ we havebeen very much ufyd to take

Cbargi cf Strat^ersi an Appettation ^x4)ich iStief
. give to all Europeans^ txctpt Pmtuguefe^ vvlmn
diejr call Branca\ i. e. IVbite^i^ or a^lr/fr Peopk^
Ifappofe, becatife thejr were thefirft white Fe^fe
diey ever &w ^ and,fix>m whom, it's probable, they
leeumt, after the Manner of that Natkm, to oill all
other Vcoflk Strafiger^. I told diem, Itbtm^ it
was much better to ft ay till the Day4ide^ when tbef
would be better able to fee the Ropes^ and ft and by
the fTorky then tbey could in the Nighty they being
Strangers to the Veffel ; and be fides ^ perhaps the r^
rf their Company might not be fucb good Seamen^ or
be ufed to working in Vejfelsj as they 'sbere.

They told me, 9^e reft of their Company were
not Pilot Sy as they twowere^ and could not work a
Veffel as tbey could ; but that they were good Sailors^
and could endure Hardjhtps^ and do any Sighing that
they were commanded^ as well as any white Sailor
whatfoever.

1 fed. If tbey could do tbaty it wasfufficient : but
J bad another Keafon to offer ^ which mighty I thought
fway with them^ to tarry till the Day-^de^ which
wasy ^at my Sails were very badj and would not
hold in any uhing of a taut IVind^ and^ if any fbing
gaoje IVay^ we could better mend it^ and Jet it to
rights by Day than by Night.

They faid, No^ it was much beetter to try for it in
the Nigbt-tide^ by Keafon it was always lefs PTind
under the Land by Nighty than by Day^ neither did
theftrong Flaws come down through the Gulleys^ as
tbey generally do in the Day.

I roll infifting in my Opinion, they told me. If my
Sails were fo bad^ as I reprefented tbem^ they would
tertainly not bold out to beat up in the Day ^me ;
for Ijbould not fail, of having taut H^inds blow off
the Land J as well as bard Maws come down the
deep Gullies ; and^ if I was not refolded to weigh .
thf ffext windward fid^ coming w, tiey^neottW ail

[ 124 ]

go vn Share y and no^ fiay on Board to run the Hazard
of lofing their Lmesj or being drove out to Sea ;
which might chance to happen on a Lee itide^ where
they might haw no Pojfibility of fetching any Part of
the Ijimd.

I coniider'd with my felf a while, and found
iome Reafbn in what they faid, and promis'd to
weigh the next Spring-Tide, if they were furc
that we could get to Paragheefi.
. They told me, STbat if they had not been very
certain of thatj J might be fur e they would not ven-
ture to weigh from thence^ and bid me not to trouble
my felf about jucb thoughts j they would engage to
get her fafe up and moored^ long enough b^ore the
windward Current was fpent^ even without one
Knot of Sail J if we tookthe Adn)antage of the whole
Sfde.

I told them, I was glad to hear it was fb eafy
to get up to the Road, and wifh'd it to fall out
as they faid.

They laid, I need not at all doubt that ^ and
about eight at Night, they told me the Current
was let to Windward, arwi that it was Time to
weigh.

I laid, ^hatj according to the bejl Obferva*
tions that J had made among tbefe I/lands^ the Cur^
rent Jhould hot fet to IVindward^ till near ten o"" Clock.
They laid. As for the Jime^ or Hours^ they were
ignorant of tbem^ as being mt ufed to reckon that
U^ay ; but they could tell %y the Kifing of the Moony
or by the Kifing and Height of fever al Stars ^ and
they perfeSlly well knew^ that the fide was already
made up to IVindwardy and^ if I did not think fit to
weigh nozVy they would all Hands go ajhore with
their Boat^ and believed J Jhould have no more Help
from the Ifland^ if I did not lay hold offuch a fair
OpportUMty as now offered. So I told them. If they
^'cre fure the Ttdi^ was made to fVindward^ they

C 1*5 ]

mgbt go to worky and beave up the Anchor as foon
as tbey pleafed. At which, they went to work;
but would not let me heave at the Windlace, be-
cauie they laid, tbey were Hands enough ^ and I
need do no .tnore^ but order wbat I would have
dohe^ &c.

We got the Anchor up, and ftow'd it, and fct
the Sails, and made a Trip off to the South-Eaflr,
with a HKxlerate Gale, and the Wind increafing,
we flood along Shore, and off withal, till we
reckoned (as well as we could difcem the I..and to
know it) to be abreaft ofa Place called PortoGbuy ;
and then putting her a Stays, the Mainiail Iplit
to in the Staying, that I was forc'd to lower it
down, for fear it would blow all to Pieces ; which
to daunted them, that they refolv'd to quit the
Sloop, and take to the little Boat which they came
off in. This put me into as great a Streight,
as any I had been in yet : We being then about
two Leagues from the Shore, an ugly chopping
Sea running, the Wind blowing fre(h,and it look-^
ing very black to Windward.

I then obferv'd, to add to the Misfortune, that
the Blacks were almoft all drunk ^ for when they
firft came on Board, I made the little Boy'fetcn
them a Bottle of Rum, and they obferving where
he brought it from, were to impudent, feeing
none but the Boy and I (notwithflanding I for-
bad them) to fetch it theiiifelves, telling me, ^at
tbe kaft tbey could expeSi^ was to participate of wbat
was in the Sloops and tbat IJhew^d myjelf very un^
grateful^ as well as nigardly^ to tbink much at any
S'bing tbey could eat or drink tbat was on board the
Vejfel.

, I told them, I did not begrudge tbem^ but would
havetbem only forbear drinking^ till we badfecured
tbe Sloops andtben tbeyjhould be very welcome to
it all.

C ii<5 3

They had die Impndence to tell me, 7!!^^ Shop
was as mucb tbeirs as fie was mine^ and alfo en^ery
SriHng tba$was mber y that I was in Diftrefsj Of^
muflhave certainly perifiedy iftbey bad not eome xff^
and bfcugbt me and tbe Boy jome IVater.

I told them, ^at it was a Kindnefs^ I tmtfd ;
but that I was in no evident Danger of perijbingj
wben tbey eanteon Boards tbe Sloop being well at a^
Ancbor^ and tbe Fmnp fucked dry ^ and^ J'banks ^
to God^ I was in good Healthy smd tberefore (Ale
enougb^ witb GocTs Bleffing^ to kaep ber free^ tilt
my Boy eould come to me from Cnrriial witb my
Boat. They laid, fbat if I bad waited tbere^ till
tbe Boy came to me witi my Boat^ J migbt wait
long enoi^by for tbey did not believe^ tbat any tf
tbe Jftanaers wonld ^venture to come down in tbe Boat
witb bim, till tbe blowing IVeatber was over^
wbicb tbey did not expeSl to bCy tbis two or tbree
Mmtbs.

I told them. If tbey left me now witb tbe Booty
tbey would leaive me in a mucb worfe Condition tban
tbey found me in^ wben tbey came on Board ; for
tbey bad drank all tbe Water tbat tbey brou^t on
Boardy and tbougb I was deftitute of it wben tbey
eamCy yet J was at an Anchor nigb tbe Shore y and
fiould always have been in Hopes cf a Supply ^ andy.
at worfty could put tbe Sloop on Shore y and fo efcape
perifiing tbat W^.

Thev laid, ^ey could not fee what I could do
with the Sloop noWy having no Sails to work ber
with ; and to liCy and drive to Leeward all Nighty
and the next Dayy till we got the Sail mendedy we
fiould be fo far to Leeward of tbe Iflandy tbat ft
would he impoffible to fetch any Part of the Iflandy
and then we mufi either perifi at Seay or be forced
tofome Place y from whence tbey might never be able
to get to their Familiesy or Homesy any more ; and
therefore y tbey were refolvednot to run tbat HuZtirdy

bstt tnd$amour to get tbitber in tb§ fwall Bodt^ wbicb
tbey bad brougbt witb tbem.

I told them, Itbougbt tbe Hazard to be fo gnat^
by wnturing in tbe Boaty tbe Sea runnifig fo bigb^
emd tbe iVtnd blowing fo bard^ ami rigbt off tbe
Sborej tbat it was next to an h^ffibitity to row
to tbe Shore.

t They replied, 3^ey werefatisfied it was a^eat
imfquej but to abide in tbe Sloops in tbeir judg'^
menty was a greater ; and^ if tbey muft perijb^ would
rather choofe it in S$gbt of tbeir native Land^ than
any where elfe ; and if I thought fit to take my
dance witb tbetn^ arid tbey found we were too many
for the Boat to carry ^ there were fever al among tbem
tbat couldy in Cafe of Neceffityy depend on fwirn^
mng ajbore^ and if Neceffity required it^ they wouldj
for tbe Security of tbe reft^ take to the IVater and
fwim ; and one of them, who reckon'd himielf
the \x& Pilot, iaid, Jl)at if tbe Boatjhouldbe over^
turned by tbe U^avesj he would not have me to doubt j
hut what be could^ and wouldj carry me fafe to
the Shore.

I told him, i%at was a very tickJifh Chance to
truft tOy and that be would foon he tired in tbe Water
with fuch a Load as I fhould be , not being able to
ftrike one Stroke ; and that I could expert no lefs^
than to he quitted by bim^ rather than perifb htmfelf.

He iaid, ^at if I relied upon him^ he would
fooner die witb me^ than leave me ; befides^ there
were others in tbe Company^ he faid, tbat could
fwim as well as he^ and tbey would take lurns^ and
did not fear getting me and tbe Itttle Boy fafe afhorey
though there was no Boat at all.

I confider'd, that all, or moft of this, proceeded
firom the Rum^ the Fumes of which, had got in
their Brains ; and ^ that it would have been as
defperate an Addon to go with them, as to cali
my ielf headlong into die Sea , the Boat beme^

ib ihiall, that nine or ten Hands were as many as
Ihe could conveniently carry in finooth Water,
and what elfe could be expeaed, but to perifh in
iiich a Sea as then run ?

Whereupon I told them, J was refoPv*d to truft
to Providence^ and continue in the Sloop ; and if
they would do fo to, I doubted not^with God^s BleJJingy
hut they would by far^ftand the better Chance.

They replied, i'hat if they muftperijhj they would
perijh in Sight of their own Landj and not be driven
to an unknown Place to perijbj where theyjhould ne*
^ver he heard of

I faid, fhat if they were to perijh in endea'*
vouring to get ajhore in the Boat^ there could no
jiccount be given of them^ mr could their Friends
know any more what was become of them^ than if
they had been loft in thefarthcft Part of the IVorld.
They anfwered, H:fey were Jure that fome of them
jhould be able to getfafe ajhore^ were both Sloop and
Boat to go to the Bottom ^ ajtd^ if but one of them
got fafe ajhore^ it would befufficient to give an Ac-^
county where ^ when^ and 'how they were loft^ which
would be a great Satisfaction to their Friends ^ and
it would be more pleafing to themfelves^ to think
theyjhould diefo near their own Homes.

I repeated to them the Danger they would ex-
pole themfelves to, and that there was hardly any
Poffibility of their eicaping, if they ventured all
of them to take to the Boat, whatever Chance
might befal fbme of them y but 'twas all in vain ;
They faid, ^heir Chance could be no better^ if they
ft aid in a leaky Sloops without Sails ^ Water ^ Provi*
fions^ &c. And often repeated, I'hat it would be
better for them to perijh in Sight of their Homes ^ than
in afar^ or ft range Place.

Be fides ^ lays one them, // you Jhould get to any
Landj Tqu would want for nothings but IVe could
expeSi nothing but to be kill'dy or made Slaves of,

during^

C >^9 ] '

during our Lives^ which ^ to us^ ^outd be worfe than
Death it felf '^ and therefore^ continued he^ Jdmre'^
foli)d^ come what willy to truft myfelf to the Boat
and St. Anthony, and doubt noty but he will prevail
"With Gody to carry me fafe ^ and foy fays he to the
reft, let us he goncy for the longer we delay y tbefar^
tber off we drive y and the farther we have to ro^
before we can get to the Shore : and let usy moreo^ver^
make a Vow to St. Anthony, ^at if he will bring
us fafe to our Homesy we will join aHdpayfor a fimg
Mafs in his Churchy the firft^ Sunday ^^r our fcfe
Arrival : And let us alfoy laid he, give the bleffed
Virgin Mary, the Mother ofGody a fiing Mafi in her
Cbapely that Jhe may command her Son to afpfk
St. Anthony, to conduSi us fafe to the Shore.

Now you muft know, there is a vaft DiflerencU,
betwixt a fung Mafsy and a faid Mafsy as well in
the Price, as me Efficacy i it being, according to
thofe People's Opinion, the Way of the Church o(
Romey to raife their Prices, in Proportion to thd
pretended Merit, or Efficacy of the Thing ; now
a fung Mdfs, which they call Mijfa Cantadoy is fimg
by the Prieft, and the whole Choir, by Note, and
is fb coinmon in this Illand, that there are
very few Males, but what are taught, tho* I don't
know, that ever I heard that the Females learrt*d
to fing. They are taught by the head Singer,
who Is filled Meafire Mufica^ (/. e. Mafter of Mu-
fick) and is chofen to that Office, for the Good-*
nefs of his Voice, ^c. This Miffa CantadOy cofts
ten feftoonsy that is, between five and fix Shillings,
and is paid to the Prieft, out of which, he pays
the Singers ^ but a faidMafsy is only called Miffa^
for which they pay to the Prieft, two ^efioons i
fo that it is not fo efficacious as a Miffa Cantadoy
but in the fame Proportion, as two is to ten ^ and
^tis reckoned almoft fcandalous, for any but the
poorer Sort, to have a faid Mafsy cither for the

C mo]

)r the Dead. There is hardly a more gain-

nch of their Trade, then this of faying and

Mafles, both for the Quick and Dead ^ but

enlarge upon this, when I come to defcribc

)fthe Iflands, their Kinds of People, Man-

Cnftcms, and Diflerences in Religion.

:t to return, they concluded to take to the

:^ and accordingly, it was haled up along

;. 2Sii the Water hove out, Oars got in, (which

:c s-ore like Paddles for a Canoo, than Oars

:: E.-V2T) and eyay Thing being got ready, the

..3c P-jwC, \\ho took upon him to be Spokefinan

- -hr re::, rcic me, J^iy ^j:€re jnfi upon departing^

.1 tf ••«

•^ .i ::r''^* r; r:// ;;v Bey ni the Ijland^ if ally
■r "v* ;/ T'V'-'f, ^ I'.-i«/j giT fjfc to the Shore^ that I
:. i/..; rrj/.r.-.v- :; pT ;; tie IJluid if I could ^ hut
'''Z'.\i T.r •;v/^ ^.^^\ .:i;J te cculd light of an
. V '"'.: -X, '.y.rsySl':fs r:u:l':};gtl€rey tobefure
? - ". r •-, - ir r^.rli" :. ": ./ it to get off the Iflatu
'■ ' : :: 1/ :'iSJ;. r-:J .:J' .::7riJ them togivepj
f -<. -f-,:\N:^;,v .V :.V/*r;V; jud Governor^ f
' C "V ■ ■ :':d '.^^ . if::.:Kce : But could wijb tl
. r : •• .7; i>\r:.\;* .;r .://, fr,ice it happened a
. . '■ • *Vv I \\\i'::^! ieei: lyivgfafe at an Anc'i
[::^ zr: Sex: thc\v llt^pp'd, toeing all, or mof
■v'^'t, \C!y cirunk, the Night very dark, aj
■ >k Cilc of Wind ; and, what with my Con

.: .VA p:"er;:nc Caie^ and the Darknefs 0/

ft ■

N 5^'.:* I d.dnoc count them, nor mind wb
:", :hvv :ha: c.imc on Board, went in the B

o

Xtcer they were gone, 1 began to confidr
I .oirtl^rtk'ii Plight I was in, and repente
;.; ihc^m wc::gh my Anchor, and heartil
.:..: rhcBov and I were fafc alhore with '

[ >}• ]

B oy, on the Ifland of St. Nicholas : I (hould wil-
lii:xgly have gone in the Boat, and quitted the
Sloop, but that it was fo fmall, that I could not
bxit think it would be a great Prefiimption to ven-
tiare to do fo, elpecially as they were all fo
irunk.

But, however, recoUeding myfelf, that there
was now no Remedy but Patience, I began to con-
fider, what Courfe to take; to extricate myfelf out
of this my prefent, and indeed hitherto, greateft
Misfortune ^ for my Mainfail was very much torn,
my Twine ahnoft expended, and I had no Help,
nor any Body to conlult with.

The Wind alfb, was now veering to the Eaftem
Trade, fb that it feem'd a Hazard, whether I
fhould be able to fetch with my Head-Sails, the
Ifle of May^ or even St. Jago^ which was ^ the Lee-
wardmoft Ifland that I was acquainted with of the
Cape de Verd Iflands : The Iflands of S. Philips and
that alfb of St. John^ I was utterly unacquainted
with, they being very little, or not at all uled by-
cur Shipping, the Sea-Draughts giving but a very
imperfedt Ddcription of them, and the Waggon-
ers and Pilots of thofe Parts, being every whit as
much, or more defeftive, making them both to be
very dangerous ^ the Ifland of St. Philips to have
few or no Inhabitants, the Roads, or Anchoring-
Places, very bad^ the Ifland of St. Jobn^ to
have one good Road, but very difficult for one
unacquainted to enter, by Realbn of the abundance
of Rocks both iiinken, and otherways ^ though
moft of thefe Defcriptions I found to be falfe.

I paflTed the Remainder of the Night, very fblita-
rily , lying with my Head to the North North- Weflr.
It blew a frefli Gale at North-Eafl:, cloudy, and
fometimes overcaft, hazy and windy-like to Wind-
ward.

K 2 ^^

[ Ml ]

In the Morning, as ibon as the Day broke o\a
dear, I could fee from me Eaft North-Eaft, the
Sirra Vermilia^ as it is called by the Inhabitants,
and the Ptmte de Vermilbaree^ North-Eaft and by
North. I wore the Sloop, and put her Head away
to the Eaft-South-Eaft, and made die Boy fteer
her, the Wind being then about the Norm-Eaft
and by North. I kept her away one Point from
the Wind, becaufe, having none but the Head-
Sails, flie would make no Way through the Water
if I kept her hankering up in the Wind ; and then
I went to work, to overhale the Mainlail, which I
fbimd fb torn, that it was paft mending, neither had
I Twine enough to do it, if it had not ; wherefore
I laflied the upper Reef Cringle down to the Boom,
and tore, or cut the Sail, even at the Foot, all
along the upper Reef;. and where it wanted, I
mended it as well as 1 could, and then fet it ; by '
Which Time, it was as nigh as 1 could guels, three
or four o' Clock in the Afternoon, when, to my
great Surprize, I heard the Voice of Men in the
Hold. I went to the Hatchway, and looking
down, I £aw three Blacks, who call'd to me, and
asked me. If we were at an Anchor ? I told them.
We were at Sea. They asked me. If I could fee
any Land P I told them, / could not. They asked,
Where I was defign^d to go to P I told them, I could
not tell^ it muft he where God pleafed^ and was re^
folvdfor thefirft Land that I could make^ and was
in Hopes J we fhould fetch St. Jago.

At which they feem'd to rejoice, and got upon
l>eck, and one of them told me, S^hat be was n)ery
well acquainted at the I/lands of St. Jago, St. Philip^
and St. John, a}td that he had been at all of them,
and round them alfo. fhat be bad been three Tears
an Inhabitant on the I/land of St. John : 7bat be
was carried there from St. Nicholas, in a French
Pirate^ who left bim at the ijland of St. John,

where

C '33]

where he remained three Tears^ and that the fame
Pirate came again^ with whom he returned to St. Ni-
cholas. The Pirate Captain's Name, he faid, was
Maringwin^ a French Briton ; and the Black that
told me all this, was called NicholauVerd.

I asked them. How it came^ that they did not go
with their Countrymen when they went cmay with
the Boat ?

They told me, ^ey were afraid the Boat would
Jink before they could get to the Land ; befides^ the
reft of their Conforts were very much in Liquor^
which made them the more afraid^ and thought I
might know better than they^ and therefore believed
they chofe the leaft Danger^ hy flaying with me, and
hofd if wejhould be put to anyftrange Landj that I
would neither fell them for Slaves myfelf^ nor fuffer
/iny Body elfe to do Jo.

I told them, ^ey might depend upon ity that
they that made Slaves of tbem^ Jhould make one of
me alfo.

They told me, ^hey came firft on Boards with
an Intention to ferve me^ in affifling me to gain the
Port of Paragheefi, which my want of Sails^
and ether Neceffaries^ they laid, had prevented ^
hut that now they would gladly do any ^ing that I
hid them^ and defired^ that I would accept them as
Servants.

They added, That they were very forry their
Comrades went away and left me^ after they had
drank off my Kum^ though*, by the Way, they
themfelves, as they afterwards told me, when i '
had got fafe on Shore, had alfb drank plentii
of it, and that was the chief Realbn of their i
ing behind, having drank in the Hold till they
dead drunk afleep, though now they pretended it
was out of pure Love and RelpeA to me, and they
would never leave me, but continue with me al^
ways Servants^ iSc

^ t '54 3

They ^ed me, JVhat J thought of the Boat ? and
whether tbofe that went in her, were got fafe ajhore
orno ? I was willing to encoun^e them, and told
them, / heUen)d not^ attd was much afraid they were
allperifh'd.

They faid, ^bey did belie^ve as much^ and reckoned
ibemfel^ves hapfy in not accompanying them in their
rajfj Folly , for they thought it could not he right ^ be^
eaufe I was fo averfe to ity and they were all fure^
that I knew a thoufand^imes better then any ofthem^
and abundance ot fuch Parlavers.

They a Jib faid, ^hey. had Relations^ fome on this
Jfland^fome on f other ^ and if we could but arri've at
tbis^ or that Ifland^ oh ! Ijhould want for nothings
hutJ)jould be plentifully fupplied with every ^bing
the IJJand afforded.

Night coming on (which prov'd clear over Head,
but very hazy all roimd the Horizon) and it con-
tinuing a taut frefh Gale at North-Eaft, I fteerM
Eaft-South-Eaft, and South-Eaft-and-by-Eaft, all
Night, and the next Morning, when the Day broke
out clear, we law the Peek of the Ifland of St. Phi-
Jip^ in the Form of a Sugar-I.oaf above'the Haze.
We could not lee any of the other Parts of the
Ifland, though very high I^and, the Haze feeming
to be elevated above the imaginary Horizon, about
twent)' Degrees ; and the Peek feemM to have its
Head elevated to thirty Degrees or more.

The Blacks were very much rejoiced at this
Difcovery' of Land, but could not throughly give
Credit to their own Eyes, and uled every now and
then, to diftruft and fear, it was not certainly Land
that we law, and then they would come and ask
me, to remove their diftruft : And {6 often repeated
their Qiicftions, that I was throughly tired with
their Interrogations.

I was in Hopes of feeing St. Jago^ but it was ib
hnzVy that I could not, though itit had been any

.«*■■=

CU5]

Thing clear, we might have feen it very plain ; the
Peek of St. Philip bore, when we faw it, from us
South-Eaft-and- by-South ; and, as the Sun rofe,
the Haze was more elevated by hisattradive Rays,
that the Peek was altogether obfufcated, and hid
from our Sight ; which increafed the Blacks doubt-
ing and confirmed their Opinion, that it was not
real, but imaginary I^nd we had feen, neither
could I perfWade them, though I was as certain ^
was poffible to be by the Senfe of Seeing ; but
they were very much down in the Mouth.

I encourag'd them all that I could, by telling
them we fhould be in with the Land before Night,
to which they gave little Credit, fuppofing, ias
they told me afterwards, that I only told th^n fb,
that they might not be caft down.

I found, by the Bearing of the Land froiji me,
with G)nfideration to the G)urfe I had fleer'd,
that the Current fet ftrong to the Weftward, and
therefore, notwithftanding the Ifland bore South-
Eaft-and-by-South, I refolv'd to fleer South-
Eaft-and-by-Eafl, being aflur'd that the Current
mufl needs fot us down very near the Ifland, be-
fore we could run the Length of it j however, I
knew we could not run fb far wide of it, as not
to fee it, let it be never fb hazy, and was re-
folvM, if poffible, to come in with it on the
Weather Side, as being then capable of running
down along the Shore at my Leifure, and view
the Coafl narrowly, to find fome convenient
Road or Bay to anchor in, or, at leaft, to rim
the Sloop on Shore in, to fave our Lives, if we
faw no Way or ProfpeA of doing better.

The Blacks tended the Pump, and told me. If
the Boy and I would but fteer, they would do
that, or any Thing elfe I bid them do, that they
were able ; which was a great Help, as well as
Encouragement to me, to what it was when the

K 4 'Boax.^

C'5«]

Boat, and, as I then thought, all the Blacky
had left me and the Boy to ftiift for ourfelves.

However, they continued very uneafy, and
continually one or other of them was asking me^
Whether J thought that was Land that we hadfeen r
Whether I was fure of it P And how long I thought
it might he before we fhould get Sight of it agaiUy
£tc. ? But to their great Satisfadion, as well as
mine, we fa\y.it again, and feem'd to be very-
near it, the Top of the Peek being, ais I fuppos'a,
45 T)egVQCSj or thereabouts, elevated above* the
Horizon ^ and we could fee the Top of the great
Mountain, which lies on the North- Weft Side of
the Peek, which is the* higheft^ excepting the
Peek, on that Ifland.

The Land ftill continued difcerniWe when the
Haze was thin, which we could perceive to fly
very faft over it, and-tiiis was about four in tHe
Afternoon, and the Peek then bore South-South-
Eaft a little Southerly, and I then fteer'd right
down for the Wand.

The Blacks were exceedingly rejoic'd at this
Sight, and mighty inquifitive to know. How long
it would he before they could get afbore ? I told
them, / was (ifraid it would be 'very difficult to get
ajhore on this Ifland^ having no Boat -, bejidesy I
thought there were hut 'very few Inhabitants there j
and therefore probably we might be in Danger of
faring hardy q*, perhaps y famifhing , cmd that 1
was informed the Ifland of St. John was better ;
for that there were more Inbabitants on //, a?ui pro-
bably we fljould there have a better Chance to find
Neceffaries to fuftaih Naturey till it pleased God an
Opportunity offer d for us to get off the Ifland ; and
thaty befidesy there was in it a good Harboury if
we fhould be fo fortunate as to find it.

To which Nicbolau Verde anfwer'd, 7ba$. my

J/tfcr;xer gave me a "vny wiwsg Jkfcrtption (f tio^

I- : twa

C '37 ]

two Iflands i for the I/land of St. Philip was tme qf
the mft plentiful of the Cape dc Verd Iflands^ far
Maiz^ Fejhoons^ Pumkins, Man-d^^yoaks^ as alfo
for Cows^ Horfesj Goats^ Muks^ &c. for the latter
of which^ he laid, they ufed to have formerly a
great irade with the French ^ and that it had three
or four itmes the Number of People on it that St.
John s had ^ hut the Harhours or Roads were indeed
'very bad^ and a great Sea always- tumbled in upon
the Shore ^ and that it was dangerous even for one
that could fwim very well^ to venture to fwim
ajhore there^ the Surf breakif^ in fo heavy on the
Shore ^ except at particular Ttmesj asy namely ^ in
the Months of^vXy and Auguft, when the Northern
strode blew very weak.

He added, ^hat he was at that IJland when a
French Ship was there trading for Mules ^ &c. and
he obferv'd that the Sea run Jo high for fever al Days
together y that they were not able to fend their Boat'
ajhore fometimes for three or four Days fuccejjhelyy
and ufed to curfe the IJland very often^ becaufe the
Roads were fo bad.

^he IJland of St. John, he iaid, wasindiffe^
rently plenty ^ and had a Hundred or more Inhabi'-
tants on it when he was there^ which ^ as nigh as he
could guefsy was about twenty Tears paft^ and had
a very good Harbour ^ which he was pofitive he could
dire£i me into as well as to any Part of the IJland of
St. Nicholas, where he was born^ and had liv'd all
his Life J except that ^tme that he was carry d off by
the French Pirate Maringwin, who l^ him at
St. John J about three Tears ; and that he had been
round both the Iflands^ and had been feveral Jtmesj
at feveral Places of thefe two IJlandsy as well
as St. Jago, ajhore with the faid Pirates Boat^ who
always took him with them as a Linguijl for tbetn^
^y which Mfans he was very well acquaint ed^ both

[•58]

with the People and Landing-places of all the three
JJlands.

I told him, If he thought he could find the IVay^
and direSl me into that Koad without running foul of
the funken Rocks y it would do well for us all.

He faid. He would engage his Life to do it ^
whereupon I told him, I would lie by all Night to
Windward of the J/land of St. Philip, and a little
hefore Day would bear away for the Ijland of St.
John, that we might have Day4ight to get into
the Harbour y and be the better able to fhun the
Kocksy &c.

They feem'd very much diflatisfy'd at this,
fearing, if they did not direftly get there, when
Night came on they fhould lofe Sight of the
Land, and never attain it more, and had a great
Cabal and Murmuring amcMigft themfelves ; after
which, Nicholau Verde told me, ^hat he thought I
had better run for the Ifland of St. John dire£llyy
heing fure we fhould get Sight of it before Nighty
and that then he would engage his Life to carry the
Vejfelfafe into the Harbour let it be never fo dark.

I told him, / did not think it proper^ neither
would it be fafe ; for the Weather being hazy^ and
it being almoft Nighty it would be impoffible for us
to get Sight of St. John'^ before Nighty and fo per'-
chance we mighty by the Uncertainty of the Current^
mifs the J/land^ efpecially as we had no Candle on
Board to fee bow to fteer a direSi Courfe by the
Compafs. Befidesy I told them, the Night was
likely to prove very dark and hazy^ and we
might be on the Rocks before we could fee them^ and
fo perifh all together.

Upon his infifting, Sthat he was fure^ if he

could once fee the Ifland^ if it was never fo dark he

could find the Way inti^the Harbour j I told him,

/ would not venture in the Night ; but if he wa^ fo

;.pofttive he knew the Way into the Harbour in the

[ '39 ]

Ni^t^ I could the better depend upon him to find the
Way in by Day.

Whereupon they all laid, fhat if I would not
run in now direSily^ they were fure we Jhould lofe
Sight of the Land before the next Mornings and then
what could they or I either expeSi but to perifh ?

I told them, S^hey need not fear that ; for I
would engage my Life to bring them to the Jfland of
St. John, with God^s Afjifiance^ by the next Day
Noon at farthefi^ and did not fear but we Jhould be
much better off than ^ their Conforts^ Cwho^ in all
Likelihood^ had rajhly perijh^d with the Boat J if
Nicholau could but dire£l me into the Harbour.

So about half an Hour paft fix in the Evening,
it being then duskifh, I laid the Sloop a-try un-
der her Forefail, with her Head to the North-
Weftward, the Peek then bearing South-South-
Eaft, a little Eafterly, and the North-Eaft Point
of the Ifland South-South-Weft, a little Wefter-
ly ; the Veffel came up to Nor th-and-by- Weft,
and fell oiF to the North-Weft-and-by-North.

The Blacks v/ere lb difhearten'd, for fear we
Ihould lofe the Land, that they went down in the
Hold, and there lay upon the Ballaft, relblving
not to fee themfelves perifti ^ nor could I perllvade
any of them once to come up and take a Spell ^t
the Pump all the Night, but were io dilpirited,
that they lay like dead People, not caring to ftir,
nor even to Ipeak ^ fo that the Boy and I was
forcM to look out, and tend the Pump, which I
was the better able to do, becaufe tljey had eafed
me of that Labour all the Day before.

I now and then catch'd a Nod as I lat on the
Deck, and then took a Spell at the Pumpj and
then a Pipe of Tobacco, and {o I pafs'd the
Night away till about four o'Clock the next
Morning ; at which Time I fet the North Point
of the Ifland^ and it thai bore South, a little

f MO 3

Eafterly, diftant, according to my Eftimation,
about lour or five Leagues.

I then caird to the Blacks to come up and help
me to hoift the Mainfail, for that it was Time to
make Sail, and bear away for St. John^^ ; but
they would neither come up, nor anfwer, fup-
poiing, as afterwards they told me, that I did it
only to get them to pump, concluding, that we
were out of Sight ot all Land, and ftould ever
remain fb : So I was forced to bring the main Ha-
liards to the Windlace, and make the Boy hold
on, while I hove the Mainlail up, as much as we
' had of it, which was not above half a Sail, it be-
ing fliorten'd three Reeves.

After I had got the Mainfail up, I made the
Boy put the Helm a Weather, and hoifted the
Jib, and fteer'd away for the North Point of the
Ifland of St. Pbilipy keeping it a Point or better
open upon the Larboard Bow.

After we had been under Sail about an Hour,
or Ibmething better, they hearing me cun the Boy
at the Helm, began to have a Mind to fee or hear
what I was doing ; Nicbolau called to me, and
ask'd, Ifbetber I Jaw tbe Land ? I told him Tes ^
and that we were "very near tbe Point of tbe Ifland
(wbicb was under our Lee-bow) wben tbey went
down^ and were now failing direSily for tbe Ifland
of St. John.

Upon this good News they all ftarted up, and
camie upon Deck, and as feon as they faw we
were ^b near the Land, contrary to what they ex-
peded, and even contrary to what they all thought
was poffible, they were very much rejoic'd and
revived, and immediately went to the Pump, and
pumped the Veflel out dry ; though there was not
much Water then to pump out of her ^ for I fel-
dom let her ftand half an Hour without pumping,
^reading to let too mtich Water l^ in her at a

C H> 3

ITime, for fear a large Spell would make me
thirfty ; and having nothing to quench my Thirft'
on Board, and very little to allay Hunger, the
Rice and the Rum being almoft gone, and the
dry'd Shark I dar'd not eat of, it always njjaking
me very thirfty whenever I eat any of it.

By this Time 'twas Day, and doubling the
Point of the Ifland, I haled more Southerly a-
long the Coaft of the Ifland, till we got abrcaft
of that Part of St Pbilip\ called by the Inhabi-
tants 3^be Gbors^ which is very much noted for *
the exceeding hard and fudden Gufts of Winds
that come off there, the nearer to which, the
harder they are, and reach off the Shore about
four Leagues, and then lofe their fierce Violence.
Thefe Gufts are but weak in the Night, and ra-
ther weaker in the Morning till about ten in the
Forenoon, at which Time the Sun rifing above
the Mountains, they blow prodigious hard till •
about four or five in the Afternoon.

We were, when abreaft of it, about two
Leagues from the Shore, and it being fb early in
the Morning, had not much of them, though it
could not well have damaged us for the Quantity
of our Sails that we had ^rcad y but the Rotten-
nefs of them rendered them ujnable to have held
out the Force or Violence of fiich of them, as
might be counted very moderate, in refpe<% of
the more violent Flaws.

We could fee the Ifland of St. John very plain,
and I fteer'd diredtly for it 5 and, in a little Time,
raifed the little Iflands which lie on the North-
Eaft Point of the Ifland, and by the Natives
call'd Gbuys 5 within which lies the befl: Road or
Harbour in the Ifland, called by the Inhabitants
Fuurno^ which in their Language fignifies ai^
O^ven^ fb callM,' I fiippofe, from the feveral
Caves which are thereabouts.

C Mi 3

As fbon as wc made the little Iflands^ I, by
the Dire&ion of my Pilot NicbofaUy fteer'd di-
recStly for the Eaftermoft of them, which was
the higheft, and kept it a little open on the Star-
board Bow, and fb run till we were got within
about half a League of the Eaft End of it, and
then kept along the Ifland till we were abreaft
of the Weft End, which hath a high rocky
Point, almoft like a Sugar-Loaf, with ^he Top
broke off, not flat, but a little rounding. When
we were got abreaft of the laft mentioned Point,
we then fteer'd for the North-Eaft Point of St.
yobns^ by the Natives called Ghelungo^ which
' bears from the Weft Point of the Eaftwardmofl:
of the little Iflands about South-Weft-and-by-
. South, diftant about a large League and a half,
or two Leagues.

Then I began to ask my Pilot Nicholau^ IVhcre-
ahouts the Harbour was ? who very readily
fliew'd me, as he thought ; but when we had,
failed a little farther, then he fhew'd another
Place, and as we ran along, he ftill was fhewing
me a new Place for the Harbour ; infbmuch,
that I plainly law he was utterly ignorant : for
every new Point of Land that we raifed, ftill
that was the Point, he faid, that made the Har-
bour 3 infbmuch that the other Blacks began to
chide at him, and tell him, S!'hat they believd he
knew nothing of it ; and that either he ne'ver bad
been at the Ifland of St. John, or elfe this that we
now faw^ muft he fome other Land that be bad never
feen.

I told them, / was pofitive this was the Ifland of
St. John 5 and that they might certainly credit me ;
for I could not he miftaken in the Ifland^ whatever
was the Matter that Nicholau could not remember
whicb^ or where the Harbour was.

4' tVvt-j

They fiki, ^ey could not tell the Mifoninr of it,
for the Land was fo remarkdbkf that any B^, that
ever badfeen it but once, might knew it again.

Nicholau laid. He was fure it vias the Ifland of
St. John, bul it was fa longjince be bad been tbere^
that be could not, he jaw plainly, know the Harbour
at a Difiance ; yet be was fure be Jhould know it
when be came to it.

I asked him, Jfbe was certain we were notpaft it
already? He&d, He was fure we were not, and fo
I kept on all along the Ifland, within about a Mile
or Ids, of the Shore, that I might be fure not to
mils it j and, at laA, we difcover'd it; but then
we were got to Leeward, for the Harbour lies round
a Point, and turning up to Windward, fo that you
cannot perceive its Opening, till you are paft it ;
and under the Land, the Wind is always light,
though it blows never fohard a Trade in the Oflin,
which makes a Ihort popling Sea, and in a light
"Wind, makes it very difficult, for any Veflel to turn
up under the Shore ; but impoflible to us, our
Sails being fo Cnall, that the Veflel would ftarce
anlwer her Helm in that popling ftiort Sea ; and
befides a ftrong Lee Current, which we perceiv'd to ^
horfe us down to Leeward apace.

I asked my Pilot Nicholau, Ifhetber there was
no Place to Leeward, that we might Anchor at ? He
told me. No, and that if I did not put the Sloop
afiwe before I droi^e to Leeward of Punta de Sal,
Ifhould not be able to get afhore, but we mufi all
cfus certainly perijh. I asked him, JVbat be would
advife me to do ? He faid. He would have me puP
the Sloop afhore upon the R-ocjb, and every one maks
tbeir Efcape as they could.

I told him. Neither / nor the Boy could fwim,
and we Jhould run as great a Hazard that IVay,
havii^ no Boat, as by Srivingto Sea again-

C » 44 1

He laid. As for his Party fince he wasgptjo nigh
? Shore y if I would not pui * '^
felfy they could^ and would.

the Shore y if I would not put the Sloop ajUore i^^

'ildy whether I wou^d or

no.

I told him, / had a Gun ready loaden for any^ or
all of tbem^ that Jhould offer to do any shbing on
Board of my Veffel againft my Will. Upon which ,
Words, he jump'd over-board, laying. He wijhed
me welly and the refi that were with me^ hut would
endeavour not to perijh himfelf^ and away he fwam
aihore.

The other Blacks told me, S^ey could not fwim
welly and dared not to ^venture ; hut if they were
fure they could fafely fwim afhore^ they would not
leave me^ till J could alfo fecure myfetf ^ hut withal^
they hoped I did not defign to carry them away to Sea
without any Water or Provifions.

I told them, / cared as little for ftarvingy or pe^
rijhing at Sea^ as they could ; neither did I defign to
go in this Condition any farther y than to find a con^
wenient Place to Anchor the Sloop in 5 andy if not y to,
put the Sloop afloore in the heft Mannery and at the
moft convenient Place 1 could find for our fdfeefcaping
ajhore.

Buty faid they, Nicholau faidy if you did not put
the Sloop afhorCy before you drove paft that Pointy
Cpointing to Punta de Sal J you cannot get afhore at
all.

I told them, Nicholau knew nothing of the Mat^
tery as they might eafily perceivcy by his not knoW'^
ing the Harbour before they were paft ity and too
late ; fory continued I, had he known ity we had nowy
with God^s Bleffingy been fafe in and moored ; andy
perhapSy I might have fo recruited herey as to have
been able to put you all afhore at St. Nicho^
again.

' M

C -45]

At which, they began bitterly to cnrfe NicbotoM^
and to wiih that he might be drowned before he goc
aihorc ^ or, if he did get thither iafe, that he mi^t
break his Neck down the Rocks before he got
quite up.

. I told them, / was not out of Hopes yet^ and
was almoft fure I Jhould find an Ancboring-Place
about Punto de Sal, and^ with God's AffiftaMe^wouH
get tbem allfafe ajbore^ iftbey would pump the Wa^
ter out of the Sloop ; for our Eagernels of looking
out for the Harbour, and Di&ppointment in mifling
. it, had made me negledb the Fump^ and fhe had a
great deal of \Yater in her, inJbmuch, that with
her rowling in the Sea, the Water waihed over the
Ballaft.

However, my black Ship-Mates told me flat and
plain, ^ey would not pumpy nor do any Jiingelft^
till they faw wbetber tbey Jhould live or die ^ and^
as foon as tbe Sloop was fafe at an Ancbor^ tbey
would tben Puntpj or do any T^ing that 1 would de-*
fire tbem.

Ay, faid I, Ifuppofe to get ajhore^ and lea^c me
as Nicholau has done.

Hereupon they made bitter Imprecations upon
themfelves, if ever they would leave me, or the
Sloqp, till I thought fit myfelf ; but all that I could
do, could not penwade them to pump one Stroke.

I run down along Shore, and haled in cloie to
Punto de Sal, infbmuch, that haling about the
Point, a Man might almoft have jumped alhore.

It may, perhaps be thought, that I was Fool-har«
dy for venturing fo nigh the Rocks, without being
acquainted with them; but if theNeceffity Ilayun*
der, and the Rcafons that induced me to do fo, be
coniidered, I diink I may be cleared on that Head ^
for that Point beine the Leewardmoft Land of the
Ifland that 1 could lee, I did not knpw how the Land,
jnight trench away on the other Side of it; So, that.

as J&r as I knew, I might not be able to hale in
with the Lacfd oo the other Side of the Point. I
aMb obierv^d it to be a fmootb fteq> Rock^ 3^
opc 6> finooth bttt what «t &cm'd pebble to gee
up it, and generally fiich Sort of Rocks are ftcep
too 9 fo that my Intention was, as fixm as I had
open'd the Lana beyond the Point, if I had no
Pro^ft either to hold the Shore on Board, or o£
an Anchoring-Place, to nm her fe nigh the Point,
if Neceflitv fi> required;, that with die Way that
the Veflfel nad, I could Iheer her to the Rock, lb
that the Boy and I might jump afhore^ for to
drive to Sea as now . we were, if we could any
Ways avoid it, would be too great a Pre-
fumption.

As foon as I opeti'd the Land on. the other Side
of the Point, I difixxver'd a finall deep little Bav,
and luffing in about it, haying my Lead ready
upon Deck, 1 hove a Caft, and Iiad thirteen Fa*
thorn Water: I hove again, and kid twelve Fa-
thoms, the Northern Stream being made, which
fcts fbrong into the Bay, and round the Point,
check'd me in mainly. I hove the Lead again^ and
had ten Fathoms ^ the next Caft I had> nine, and
then I cockbilled my Anchor, and heaving one
Caft more^ I had eight Fathoms and a half i not
liking the Shore well, which to me look'd very
ragged, which moft^an-cnd denotes foul Ground,
though, by the Lead, it ieem'd to be both even
and clear ; I let go my Anchor in. eight JFathom
Water f and as £)on as I had v^d Cable enough
to hold the Sloop, and ftow'd. the Sails, I toofc
and rigg'd both Pumps, and took* hold of one
Pun^break myfeif,. andbid them take hold of
tjie other, and wc fhould fbon pump, her onto
But they feid, S'iffy wanted IVater^ ani w^e n)erf
dry^ faint^ ajfd bmgry^ mid vnabh to fumf ^ ktt

• « M

^ .• v^

^

thty would fwim ajhote^ dnd fee fair fdtne tVaier^ and
ctme on Board agatn.

I tpld them, 3^bere was no Place nigb us, I he^
liev% that bad any Water j neitber did it look as if
ibere were any ; and tberrfore defi/d tbem to wait
witb Patience till tbe Morning, and to be fure fomi
of tbe Inbabitants would came down to us, and per^
taps migbt bring Jothe Provijkms too^Jince tbey muft
needs know ana bear of our Neeeffity by Nicholau,
wbo I was fure would not fail to give tbem an Ac-^
count wbo we were, and of our NeceJJities.

They told me, ^'bey did not know but Nichdati
mi^t be drown d, or devoured by fome Ftjh before
be got ajhore, and tbat tbey would not truft to tbat :
S'bat it migbt be, tbe Sloop would drive to Sea again
in tbe Niffft.

I told them, ^bey need not fear tbat ^ and if we
found no Relief before tbe next Noon, I myfelf would
bale tbe Sloop in, and go witb tbem ajhorc.

They laid, Tbey would go ajhore and get fomi
Water, and would come off to me in tbe Morning
betimes, and bring me fome, if I did not go away
witb tbe Sloop in tbe Night .

So away they went overboard, and fwam afhore^
which was not far, being about a large Stone's
Caft, and never came to me more.

It was Evening, and almoft duskifh, when they
went away , but I could lee Ibme of the Natives
1^ aloft on the Tops of the Rocks, but they did
not come down that Night.

So the little Boy and I were again left alone to
Ihift.for ourlelves as well as we could , and after I
had * put feme Service in the Hawle, I fell to worfc
at my old Trade of pumping, and was heartily
tirM before I got her Iuck d 5 for being- nigh the
Shore, Co that I could have made fhift to have
laved the Boy and myfelf, I was not {o much
afraid as when I was at Sea ^ which Fear, I found

[ '4«J

now, had made me €o vigorous, and T thought,
ftrong, that I nvas not dioi dr'd, as I could per-
ceive, at all ; but now it icem'd not only drefbme,
but tedious and irkibme, inlbmuch, diiat I began
almoft to deQ>air of being able to lK)Id out withbut
ibme other Afnfiance, however, with modi to
do, I, after a long and tedious pumping, got her
to fiick. She had as much, or more Water in her,
than (he had when the Pirates firft left me ; but
then I had my biggeft Boy to help me, who could

Sump as much as I could, and then I was more
rong and vigorous, being pretty much ^tigued,
emaciated and debilitated fince then.

However, I rcfblv'd with nurfelf to keep her,
if I could poffible, till I could fmd, whether there
was Hopes to get any Thing at this liland, fb as
to recrmt,and enable me to run down to Barbadoes ;
for I hoped, if I could |[et a little Provifions, and
perfoade two or three of the Blacks to go with me
to help me at rhe Pump, which, now fhe became
(6 leaky, was the principal Part of the Work, the
Sails, with a finall Matter of mending, would
ferve to run down.

As loon as it was Day, three of the Inhabitants
of the Ifland came down to the Sea-fide, and haled
the Sloop. I anfwer'd them. They ask'd me Hm
I did? and welcomed me to their Ifland. I thanked
them. They ask'd, U'^betber tbey might come on
Board ? I told them, ^bey migbt if tbey pleas'" d^
or knew bow^ for I bad no Boat. They £aid, ^bey
had a Boat of tbeir own : At which they jump'd
into the Sea, and fwam off to me. As foon as
they were come on Board, they ask'd mtj JTbe-
tber J was not an Englifhman ? I told them Tea.
They laid, tbeylov'^tbe Englifli tbe befi of any
Kattony and ask'd me. Where tbe reft of my Company
wre ?

I told

. t-

I <49 ]

1 told diem, ^be Pirates had taken all my Men
from me.

They laid, S^ey knew that^ for Nicholau Verd
had told them of that the Day before,

5tben^ faid I, Nicholau is got ajhore ? Tes^ laid
they^ and be would have come down to yoti with usy
Put tbat be has hurt his I'bigh and Hip againft the
Kocks as be was landings infomucb^ tbat if wa
bad not been there when be came afhore^ to help btfj%
out of the Water y be would have certainly pertflad ^
buty laid they, we ask*d not for your Men^ that i/
the Engliflimen, but the Blacks which Nicholas
told us be bad left on Board when be fwam ajhore.
I told them, ney went ajhore the preceding Night i
and told me when they fwam ajhore^ tbat they would^
come again on Beard this M^rning^ and bring me
fonw Water off with them y but I bad not beard of
them Jincc.

They ask*d mc. If I bad any Water on Boards
for Nichcdau Verd, they faid, bad *told tbem^ tbat I
bad bad no Water when he came ajhore^ nor for a
long ^tme before.

I told them I had not one Drop. They laid.
If I would go on Shore ^ they bad fome Pompion there ^
and would make a Fire and drefs fome of it^ and^t
me fome Water.

I told them, / could not fwim ; at which they
much admirM, that any Man (hould venture to
go to Sea without knowing how to fwim.

I told them, I'bat abundance of our Countrymen
did J and tbat jfwiraming was not Jo common among^
uSy as it was among fi them,
• They laid. It was ^ery Jirange^ tbat we ufing
the Sea more than any Nation^ yea^ even more than
the Portuguefe, who had taught all the World to be
Sailors^ as they were inform^ d^ Jhould not praSiice
fwimming : It was what they praSlis^d^ they laid,
£Vfin from their Infancy^ not excepting their "very

jVomen ; and that tbej jkould he afraid f$ go dtwn
upon the Rocks to fijh^ unlefs they could fwim 5 for
fear they Jhoutd at any Jtme happen to fall into ih'e^
Sea ; in which Cafe^ if they could not fwim^ they
eould expeSi nothing lefs than to he drowned.

I ask'd them, J^ there was any Water nigh Hand .^
They laid, Tes^ and fhew^d me viiereaboi^ it
Ivas, and tx>ld me, Jf J would gi've them a large
Calahajby they would fwim aver tie Bay^ and fetch
fme ^ for the Rocks were fo fteep^ that if a Man
went ajhore on one Side of the Bay^ he could not g$
found to the other Side^ without fwimming.

I thanked them, and told diem, I bad no Cala*
'bajhes^ but I had a fmall Cask ; and bid the Boy
hand up a half Andior which was in the Hold.

When the Boy brought it up, they faid it was
too cumber fome to fwim with^ arid they would there^^
fore go ajhore^ and take their ownCalabaJhes : Which
are Gourds, that after all the Pulp and Seeds are
taken out, are let to dry, and fo become hard,
and lerve them to carry their Water to their
Houfes, as alio when they go a fifhing or hunt-
ing ; for they never go abroad from their Huts
without a Calabafti of Water with them , and fot
their more eafy Carriage of that, and their Pro-
vifions, when they go a Journey, as alio to bring
home the Fifli or Vcnilbn that they catch, they
have every one of them a Goatskin, ftripped d9F
without cutting the Skin open, Ibmething like a
Soldier's Knapwck ; and the Hide of the Legs
being ftripped down to the Hoofs, and the Hoofs
cut off with the Skin, lerves to fling them for
their more eafy Carriage, which they do by mak-
ing faft the Feet of one Side together, and put-
ting their Arms through, by which Means they
hang over their Backs with little or no Trouble
fQ them, as they are lb us'd to them.

r '5' ]

They accordingly iw^m afliore j and by that
Time diey had reacn d it, there appeared in Sight
aloft on die Rocks, fbme more of them, who
hallowed and hoop'd much afcer the Manner of
the Mandingo Negro's; from whom, I believe^*
they might take their Original, being very like
them in Gefture, Manners, and Phyfiogno-
my, and ufing a great deal of the Mandingo. Dia-
led in their Speech.

They were anjfwer'd by the Blacks who Iwam
afhore ^ at which they defcended down the Rocks,
and the others below waited for them till thw
came down, and, I fuppofe, told them of -theiic
being on Board, 6^^. after which, thefe newr
come Blacks fwam ofl^ being three in Number,
and came on Board, and a$k'd me, How J di^
&c. and told me, ^hey bad brought nothing from
the Town with tb^m^ becaufe they did not know vf
my NeceJJity ^ faving two Pompions, which belonged
to thofe Blacks who were gone to fetch me IVater^
who had defird them to bring them off with them :
^hat they alfo had met with the Blacks who came
afhore lajl Nighty and who^ as they told them^ were
going to the Governor to get him to fend me down
jome Men to pump the Water out of the Shipy for
that there was a great deal of IVater came in thro^
her Bottom^ and if the Governor did not fend me
down forth Help^ the Ship would fink ^ and that they
were fo tird with the Pump that they were almoft
dead ; but had faid nothing of my Want of Water
and Provifions.

I askM them. Whether the Govertfor was a good
Man or mt ?

They told me, Ke was an extraordinary good
Man^ and they believd he would have been amn
with trie before now^ but that he was very fick^ a
Fever and Cough ^ which he had had a long Ttme^
infhmucb^ that be bad not been out a bunting for

L 4 fe'VietA

fever al Months ^ hut they were fure 1 Jhotfld have
feme Help down that Day 5 and defir'd me to pew
them the Pump^ that they tnight fee what it was ;
which I did : And then they dcfir*d me to let them
fee how I worked with itj that they might help me.
Which 1 did very willingly, and diey pumpM till
it luckM, and then I made them leave off.

In about two Hours, the Blacks who went for
the Water returned, and brought two dlabaihes
full with them, which I believe might be about
fix Quarts : I dien went to work to make a Fire,
and the Blacks were lb obliging, they would not
let me make it, but made it themfelves. I made
the Boy get up a little Rice, and fliced a Pompion
into the Pot Ivith it, of which we made fome
good Pap, and, asd^n as boilM, we all eat heartily ^
after which, I/gave them a finall Dram of Riun
apiece, for which they were very thankful.

I would have dre{s'd fome of my dry'd Shark ^
but as foon as they faw it, they asK d me, If that
was not Fifh called Sarde ? I told them, / did not
Jutow,

They ask*d me. Where I got it. I told them,
/ catcVd it at Sea , and when I told them after
what Manner, they lifted up their Hands and
Eyes, and much admirM my Ingenuity in the
Contrivance of catching it, and that any Englijb
Ihould eat it ^ and were fiire it was that>Kind of
Fifli which they call'd Sarde ^ asking me. If it
would not feize and devour an human Creature^ if
itfhould light on one in the Water ?

I told them, It would^ and was a very voracious
Ftfh, Then they laid. It was the fame h ^nd di-
rectly, without asking my Confent, tofi'd it all
overboard, and laid, They thought that no Man of
{iny Nation would eat any Fifh that fed upon human
Flefh ^ but efpecially the Englifli, whom they took to
he the niceji and cleanlieji People in th^ World.

• . I told

C -J} ]

. I told them, U^e did not ufeit commonlf for Food^
and that where NeceJJity did not enforce us^ -^we al-
ways abhor d fucb Food j hut I catch' d it to keep me
from ftarvingy and yet^ notwithfiandim I had tt fo
long on Boards and was reduced to jucb H^oiit^ I
mas fure there was not three Pound IVeigbt of it
eaten.

Some iaid, Jt was better to eat any ^bing than
ftarve y otlicrs, ^bat they would foonerftarve than
eat any Jibing that lived upon human Kind.

After we had eaten, and talk'd a while in this

]\Ianner, they began to talk among themielves

about going to their Town, and told me, fbey

wonder d that the Governor had not fent fome Men '

down to me^ and believd that they who went from

me to Jowny had not fpoke with the Governor^ or

perhaps they might he weary ^ or not find the Way to

it 5 but they would go afhore^ and make the bejl

of their JVay to fown^ and fpeak to the Governor that

Nighty to fend mc fome Help betimes in the Mornings

am likewife to order me fome Venifon and other Pro^

viflons 5 and did not know but fame of themfelves

might come on the Morrow^ if they were not too

much tird ^ /or, they faid, it was an ugly difficult

Way to Towny as well as long and dangerousy the

Rocks being very apt to fall ; but fome of them

would ft ay to help me to do what I wanted to he donCy

that was in their Power to doy and alfo go and catcb

me fome frefh Fifh. i

I thank'd them, and defir'd them to give my Ser^
vice to the Governor^' and defire him to fend me ten
or a Dozen Men downy to hale my Veffel further in^
to the Bayy to make her fafty and I would pay to his
Satisfaction with any Thing I bad on Board the
Veffel,

They faid, / need not fear having twenty, or
piore Men down on tbe Morrow j and {o went a-
(hpre all together, two of tbem having ccwicluded

[ «54 ]

to ftay, but went afliorie with the reft to catch
fomc Fifli for my Supper. They aMb pnmp'd
the Veflfel drv before they went aihon?, as they
had done all tne Time that they were on Board.

Now I began to be a little up hi my Spirits,
feeing the People were fo affable, and was in
Hopes that the Danger of perifliihg, by Famine
was over. About duskifli, the two 'Mcin who
went a fifhhg rctum'd t)n Board, and brought a
good handibme Difti of Filh, and a Calabafh o( '
Water .with them, which wc drefsM, with fome
Pompion 5 and after we had taken the Fifli up dht
of the Pot, at their DeCrc, I made the Boy bring
up a little Flower, and with it and the Fifh-Broth
we made fome Pap, which by the Slacks was
accounted a moft lavoury Difli, as alfo it was to
me and the Boy, not having eat any hot or
drefs'd Viftuals a long Time before.

They told me, ^bey would not have me trouble
tnyfelf witb tbe Pump^ but the Boy and I might go
to Sleepy and take a whole Nighfs Bjfi^ which they
did belie^e^ they feid, / ^ery much ftood in need
of. '

I thank'd them, and faid, / would accept of their
kind Offer j but defirdy if I fbould chance to fall
ajleep^ and it Jhould blow^ or fall Calm^ or the
Wind fhould fhift^ that they would not fail to call •
me 5 fory iaid I, if it Jhould fall calm^ the Veffel^
by the turning of the ^tde^ might take a ^urn with
the Cable round the Anchor ^ and when the Anchor
was foul with the Cable ^ it would not bold^ but let
the Vejfel drive either on the Kocks^ of elfe out to
Sea^ according as the IVind blew.

They iaid, ^hey would be fure to call me if Oc^
cafion requirdj or any Alteration happen d different
from what it was when I lay dawn.

So I fmoak'd a Pipe of Tobacco which they had
hrought ^ith them, and gave to each of liitta a

c

fliort Jtink oJF Pipe^ for I had no other left toy fee
Pirates^ and confidering I coidd not employ ot
make Ofe of iny Rtrm better, than to entertaiA
fiich •Guefts as they were wil^ it, I gave e^ch of
riicm a finall Dram apteoe, antf ^told them, / bnd
iut 'very little of it now 3 but MA a^reat deal of it
when the Pirates took tne^ who bad rohVd me of it
all^ ecccept a little that Jay in tie Bottom of a Cask^
which I believed they knew notbit^ vf^ or tley baS
not left ffie tbat ^ hut fince I Jaw they were fc kind
to me^ I eould wijh I bad fometbin^ietter to grve
them. ■ '

They rfiank'd me, and told me, ^be^ would ra^
tber bow me keep it for myfelf heeatife^ perbapSj
I being ufed to drink it^ migbt not fo well he abU
to li've witbout it ^ but as for their Parts they could
do very weU wit}fo0 it^ ibo^ it was 'the heji Liquor
that e^der they badtafteijl 3 having often beard of it I
and feveral of their Iflanders bad drank pretty much
ef it^ efpecially when tie Pirates ufed to come tbi'-
tber^ but for their Parts they never before tafted any
Aqua ardenta, • (which is the general Name they
give to all hot Spirits, not knowing the Difference,
or how to diftinguifh Rum from Brandy, &c.)
Sut they would noty they faid, have me (Tjon that. I
had any on Board^ for there were fome of the Inba-
hitants who knew what Aqua ardenta was j and if
once they came to know I had it^ they would drink it
all away from me^ and then I Jhould b^ dfftitute of
fomethin^ to comfort me^ and perhaps die for want
of it ; for- they bad heard that their Food was fo.
different and ordinary to what ours wasj that an
Englifliman could not live upon it. Befides^ their
People not heing ufed to any fucbj could not have
any want of it. Water heing their only Drink^ and
therefore more natural to them, ^hey alfo bad heard
it related^ riiey laid, S'bat a certain Pirate caWd
|ijlatlngwin, a Fipenchman, which Com^r%tht'j did

' "not

no^ know hut might he in Bngland, ban)iw landed
on this Ifland^ Qwhich, as my unlucky Pilot M*
cbolau Verd told me, was about 20 Years before^
and thefe two Blacks, by their 0>untenance, I
judg^ to be about 24 Years of A%e) had ahun^
4dnce of that fir ong Water on Boards and was very
free of it among the black People of this Iflandy wbd
drank pkntifully ofitj and nt^ being us^d to itj were
mad 0fome STtnw after ^ and fome of them fettfick^
and dyd of mad Fevers : Notwitbftanding which j
many that were now on this Ifland^ were almoft
every Day wijhing^ that a Pirate^ or any other Sbipy
would come and take tbem with them to fome Country^
where they might bow enough of that hot Liquor to
drink ^ and that they had often^decla/d^ they would
certainly go with tbem.

Hearing, this, made me in Hopes, that if I
could recruit myfelf with a final] Matter of Pro-
vifions and Water, it would be an eafy Mat*
ter, if what they faid but now was true, to get
three or four of them to go with me, to help to
carry the Sloop down to Barbadoes.

I ask*d them, If there was good Store of Cotton on
the IJland.

. They faid, ^bere was Cotton. enougby but nothing
nigh fo much as bad been^ hecaufe the Seafons had
not been fo kindly ^ for want of Rain^ as they usd
to bCy nor their IJland fo plenty as formerly ^ but
fiilly they faid, they did not want^ there being inore
by one half than they gather d and made ufe of.

I ask'd them. If they did not make Cotton Cloths
to felL

They faid, fhere was few or none on the IJland
but what had Cotton Cloths ^ and fome had a great
many ^ but no Ships coming to buy them^ tbey gene^'
rally made no more than tiey had Occajion for^ for
their own Ufe : But ibat^ however ^ fome Women
had fix or eight Cloths 3 of which Number ^ &ys one

i of

C M7 ]

of them, fnj Mother is one ; hut they wore them fo
feldofffy that a Cloth would la/i fome Tears.

I askM them, iVhether I could not get fome Q^
ton 5t bread to mend my Sails ?

They feid, / need not fear thatj they were fure
no Body would refufe to give me a Skein or two of
J'hread for asking.

I told them, / would buy it ; for I had ibme
Glafs Beads, and fome old Cloths, &c. than
which you cannot have a more acceptable Comr
modity to traiEck with thofe People.

It growing late, (I believe near or about the
Hour of ten) they faid, J'bey would have me go
lie down and/leepy and tbey would look out for me^
and call whenever there was Occafion^ and wduld
keep the Sloop always pumping dry.

Being pretty ileepy, and much fatigued by fit*
ting up all the Night before, I was willing to ac-
cept their Kindnefs, and gave them a half-Hour
Glafs, and fhew'd them, that in a certain Space of
Time, all the Sand would run out of the upper
Glafs into the lower, and then, by turning the
End which had the Sand in it, uppermoft, in the
fame Space the Sand would run again into the
other £nd ^ and fb by turning the Glafs as fbon as
the upper End was empty, they might know how
the Time pafs'd ; and that it would be enough to
pump the Veflel every Time they turnM the Glafs,
and when they had fuck'd her, to let the Pump,
fland till the upper End of the Glafs was empty j
and then to turn the Glafs and pump again.

They faid, T'hey would ^ and ask'd. How many
Sjmes the Glafs muft ruft out^ and he turned azain^
to make that Space of Stme which I call' d an Hourf
Having told them twice^ they ask*d me, IVbether
the Glafs would run the Sand in that ^ime if evfry
me went to Sleepy as escadly as if it was watch' d\? -

t tokl tHaest^ U was all the fam ;. and thdy ask^d
ine, If I kmn) bm> many Glajfes W9Uld run om be*
fore the Day appeared.

I faid, Icouldj if they took Care to turn the Glafs
agmn as fomas the upper End was^ en^y^ and not
hefore^ prtmdedl could know eiea^ly what Hour of
the Night it was when the Glafs was firfl ttmid.

But bow will you do to know that, (aid they >
: : / have a fbing^ fidd I^ by which I could tell by
the Starsy if the North Side of the Sky were clear
to the Water ; hut now I cannot y hecaufe the Land
hinders me.

They feid^ ^bey belienfd all White Men were
Fittafeers (i. e. Corxyartrs^

I told them) We utterly detejled having any Cor^
refpondence with the Devil, and in our Country when
any one was fdund guilty of Sorcery, be or fise was
by the Law cf tbe^Land immediately burned
'. They faid^i b was a very ^ood Law^ and they
wffsi'd they would do fo there alJOyBut, faid they^^w^
do mi meat^ when we fay all White Men are Fitta*
jeers, that they are fuch evil Perfons, or commit
fufi? Mifcbievoufnefs as our Fktafeers do^ or that
you are beholden to the Devil for your Skill, as ours
0re : We rather think you are more ingenious, and
know more than the Devil bimfelf does ; and there^
fore we do believe, that it is not in the Power of our
pittafeers, with all their Skill and Affiftame. of the
Jkvil, to hurt a White Man>, efpecially if he he a
^ehols^ico, 0'. e. an Artift, or Man of Lea<ming)
as they helmed mofi Strangers to he, who were Pilo-^
<o?^ and therefore when I went up to ^own^ they
^toped I would do fometbingto c^^gbt them, foasto
inake them forbear hurting tbemand their Cattle,^ and
efpecially littk Children, agai^ whom they badfucb
^; Spite, efpeciatty^ if their Parents had any Ways
offended them ^ tbat in fome Families they would not

^

C '59 ]

ft^ a Child to Uw^ hu$ would fo bewHeh it^ that
in a little Ttme it would pine amay^ and die.

I was willing to keep up their Efteem of me,
and told them^ I would [ee what was to be done in
that Jdatter when I went up to their Jvwn^ which I
defigfid Jbould he as foon as the Governor fent tim
down fonw Man to help me^ and that I bad got the
Sloop a little better made faflj and farther into the
Bay.

They &id, / Jhould han^e Hznds enough by the
Morrow ; and ask'd. How many Glaffes they muft
turn to nuike it the Middle of the Night ? j4nd how
many more to bring Day ? Jfei if I could not guefs
this J within two^ three^ or four Glaffes j by any of
the other Sides of the Sky be fides the North ? .

I told xkemy I did belie*ve J could ; and £o gue&
fing the Time of the Night to be abt)ut een, I bid
them, turn the Glafs then^ and let it run outy and
turn ft thrice more^ and that would bring Mdnight ^
and then turn it eleven ^iwtes more^ and that would
very near^ or quite bring Day ^ asking them. If
they could be fure to keep a true AccouM cftbe Num^
ber of Glaffes which they turn'' d.^

Thejr faid. Tea : J'hen, iaid I, you can reckm
well I fuppofe : They fed, Tes^ yesy they would
have me to think they were not like the Terra firma
Preato's (/. e. Mainland Blacks) for although they
were blacky yet they believed there was a God and a
Chrifi^ and they tbanJCd St. J^tonio, and were be--
bolden to him above all the Saints^ even more than
tif St. John, who was the Guardian Saint of their
J^and^ and under whofe Care they bad been put by
the Portugucfe, when they firfi brought their^Bfre^
fathers J^^oin/iJ?^ Terra firma, and plfic^d tbenim^
this Ifland. Tet^ faid 'diey, we are more obligated
to St. Antonio, becaufe it was he that direffed the
Fortuguefe, and conduced them with us: to ^^^
I/Iandy through whom we not only came to the Know^

ledge of bimfelf^ hut alfo of God^ Cbrifiy Sf. John,
am alfo of all the other Saints that we know i and
of the Virgin Mary, who is God^s Mother^ and can
command Kfer Son to do any ^bim fhe pkafes i and
we are fure that God cannot deny his Mother ^ which
is the Keafon that we oftner pray to her than to Gody
or Chrifi ^ Isecaufefhe heing a IVman^ is more eafily
perfwaded^ as are almoji alllVomen^ than Men:

They added, ^hat a great many of them could
hoth read^ write^ and caft Accompt^ though they
ownd they -had not the Ufe of Figures like the Englilh,
whoj as they had been infonr^a^ exceeded all 'People
in the IVorld^ for Navigation^ Pbyfick^ Conju*
ration, and Aritbmetick , even the Portuguefe them^
felvesj from whom they had learned all that they
kneiv y and therefore, as we exceeded the Portu-
guefe, who were their teachers, fo it could not be
otherwife but we muft abundantly exceed them.

They then repeated their Defire, that I would
go to lleep i whereupon I bid them good Night,
charging them to be fure to call me if they faw
any Alteration ^ which they promised, and I
went to my Cabbin, and mus d and contemplated-
on my prdent Condition, as well as what Means
I could ufe to extricate me out of it, with a hear-
tv Defire that the Almighty would diredt me in
tne beft Way and Method ; and feeing it a fine
Night, and a fleady, frefli, yet moderate Wind,
blowing the right Tr^de, and likely fb to conti-
nue, I at laft fell afleep, and held it till about four
or five in the Morning y at which Time awaking
in a Sort of a Surprize, as not being a long Time
ufed tofuch long and undiflurb'd Sleeps, I arofe,
and cam6 upon Deckhand found my two new
Shipmates fitting forward, tSlking together.

1 bid them a good Morning, and ask'd them.
How they had pafs'd the Night r

- ^ '

*rhey

[ «5' 3

^hey faidj Very ivell^ and ask'd me. How I

hadflept?

I told them^ Very well. They laid, ^bey were
got forward to talkj becaufe they would not wake
or difturb me ; and thought^ confidering the iVatch^
ing and Fatigue I had bad^ that I Jhould not have
waked before the Sun was up.

I told them, / bad not bad fucb a long or found
Sleep in a great while before , and ask'd mem. How
long it was fince they pumped ? They faid, 3*bey
pumped when they turned the Glafs^ which was about
half out^ and^ I took the founding Rod and founded^
and found the Sloop had not above eight Inches tVa^
terinber.

They told me, ^hat the Idfi ^tme they pumped^
for fear they Jhould not do right y they calfd the little
£oyj who told them^ that jhe was dry enough^ and
then they made him go to fleep again ; but were
lotb to wakie me^ left I Jhould not go to fleep again
prefentlyy which they knew the Boy would prefently
do.

I ask'd them. How many Gtajfes the^ had got
put ? or^^ Whether they had not let them ft and ?

They laid, ^hey bad not let them ft and at all ;
after it was out of one End^ they immediately tuirnd
it 5 and that this Glafs that was now runnings was
fbe tenth ^ and that they bad watch'' d it the narrower^
to fee if it could tell them when Day came.

I told them, That it would be Day^ I believ'dy
before two Glajfes more run out^ hefides that which
was then running.

IVell^ they laid^ // it was fo^ that would be'juft
as I had told them before I went to fleep ^ and if it
fofell out^ they Jhould think it was one of the moft
ingenious ifhings that ever they had feen in their
Ltves ; and, that as I had told them in<the Beginning
of the Nighty that I could not tell the exa£{ Ttnie of
tb€. Nighty being binder d by the Landy fo if the

[ •«5x 3

Hay came in the thirteenth Glafs^ they thought it
was exa£i enough. They ask'd me, IVhether I
would not go and take another Nap of Sleep ? I
told them JVb ^ but they mighty and I would look otiP
and tend the Pump. They feid. No 5 they had ra-
tber watch and count the Glajfes till Day ; and as
for the Pumpy they would not have me trouble myfelf
with that any more^ for I Jhould always have Men
enough while I was bere^ that would come of their
own accord^ and take ^urns on Board.

I told them. By what I had already feen ofthent^
I bad no Reafon to believe that I Jhould want Helpj
or any ^bmg elfe that the I/land afforded.

They" ask'd me. If I would fmoak a Pipe of To-
hacco. I thank'd them, and told them. Tea, So
they rummag'd their Pouches, but betwixt them
could hardly make a Pipe full, they having ex-
pended the Stock which they had brought from
Home : Whereupon I told them, I had fbme
Tobacco yet, which the Pirates had left me, and
offerM each of them a Pipe, which they thank-
fully accepted; and fb we pafs'd the Time till
Day, which broke out a little after they had
turn'd thc\^ twelfth Glafs; at which they much
wonder'd, that liich an inanimate Thing fliould
meafure and keep Time fb exadlly, and that they
who had Life and Senfe in them, could nothing
nigh meafure or guefs Time as that did ; apd
Ibmetimes they faid there was fbmething of Ma-'
gick in it.

About Sun-rife there was a great Noife, and
calling from the Tops of the lower Rocks, as if
there had been a hundred People. The Blacks,
which w A^ith me on Board, told me, they be-
lieved thefe jhat I heard whooping upon the Rocks,
were the Forerunners of the Company which Ac
Gof^emor had fent. I faid, I wifh'd it nught be
/bj and that by the Noife they ^miade, diere

e ein*d to be a great many :- But they iaid it t^a*
only the founding of the Rocks, which made me
think fo 3 but they knew there were but two
Men.

The Reader will perhaps wonder how I came to ♦
be fo perfeft in their Language {q foon^ it being
the firft Time I came among them : But I muft
acquaint him. That the Ground or Original of*
their Language is the fame with that of their
Stock, which was, as I hinted before, from the
Mandingo Negro's 3 from which they retain a
Diale(5t, as well as a great many of the primitive
Words of that large Nation, and far extended
Language ^ and the reft of it is made up of a
corrupted Portuguefe^ and fome other Words,
which leem to be coined or invented fmce their
Settlement here, and incorporated by Ofe with
their hodge-podge Language.

Now I had a tolerable Smatch of the Por-^ 4
tuguefe Language, which is the moft fignificant
Part of their Dialedt : Befides, they have fo
nxany Motions (as indeed moft of the Inhabi-
tants of the Cape de Verd Iflands have, efpecially
thofe of this, and the Ifland of St. Philip J that
thereby, and by the Accent, which gives Life
and iPorce to their Meaning, of which I had fome
Notion before, that they forv'd very much to
explaiA what they laid. I alfo underftood fome-
thing of the general barbarous Language of the
Windward Iflands, which comes fo nigh to the
Language of the Leeward Iflands, as in a great
Meauire enabled me to apprehend the Purport of
what they laid in the general, and to make us
underftand one another ; but yet fo oblcurely .
and confuledly, and with fo much Difficulty, as
would have rendered an Interpreter heceflary,
could liich a one have been had ; tho' perhaps he
could not exprels himfelf with the Em^Vva^^^^^

Ma TSojtcfc

C •<54 ]

force that I could, however, he might be a
better Mafter of the Tongue. But to return : The
Blacks waited a while to fee if they would come
down 5 but feeing they did not, they faid they
would go afhore and meet them, and fend themt
on Board, and they themfelves would go a fifh-
ing, and bring fbme on Board for Dinner : So
away they fwam on Shore.

Some Time after, two Men came down, and
fwam on Board, being the fame who had whoop'd
in the Morning, and brought with them a Pom-
pion y and told me, that the other two, who had
been on Board all Night, were gone a Fiihmg,
and would be back about Noon, and had given
them a great Charge to mind the Pump j and
defir'd me to fhew them what they mufl: do.

This I very readily did, and they as readily
wrought as they were taught ^ and about twelve
or one o' Clock, the other t\yo return'd with a
handfbme Difli of Fifli, which we drefs'd with
ibme Pompion, and, as before, made fbme Pap
with the Fifli-Broth, and made a hearty Meal
thereon ^ but my Mefs-mates defir'd me not to ufe
my Flower, but keep it for myfel^ and Boy;
^vhich they all took to be my Son, and flill be-»
lieve to be fb.

They told me, / Jbould 7tot get any fucb Fo$d
Toere^ as my Flower was ^ and that if the Prieft
ieard that I had any^ he would^ they believ'dy eoc^
feSi me to give him fome.

I told them, ^hat I had but a very little ; but
the Prieft y Governor^ or any Body eUe on the Ifland^
was very welcome to that^ or any Thing elfe that I
had on Board,

I waited and expefted to have fbme Help down,
but none came ^ and in die Afternoon it began
to blow, and look'd dark, cloudy, and heavy to
Windward, over the Land^ which is a certain

Sign

Sign of a Gale of Wind, fb that I began to fear,
if it fhould blow hard, and my Ground-Tackle
^ve Way, I fliould drive out to Sca^ and then
Aould be in a worfe Condition than ever I had
been yet : I proposed therefore to them, to iwim
with the End of a finall Rope alhore, and by
Aat to hale a Cable-end, and make it faft to the
Rocks i which they did, but fo flightly, that it
llipt ^ and all the Arguments that I could ufe to
perfuade them, could not prevail with them to
try once more, and to carry a Faft afliore:
Which made me very difconlblate, the Wind in-
creafing ftill : They feeing me diflatisfy'd, and
asking the Reafbn, I told them, j'hat I could ex-*
pe6t nothing but to perijb^ if I and the Boy Jbould
drive again out to Sea ; and told them, bow fafely
that might he prevented^ if I had a Cable well made
faft aftfcre.

They faid, i'bey hadftryd already^ and the J?-
vening now grew cold j bejidesy they were fo fpent
and tired with what they bad done^ that they could
not pretend to get it ajhore again ^ befides^ they
knew that they could never make it well faft ; but
they were fure there were fome Men would come
down the next Day from the ^own without fail^ that
could make faft my Cable to the KockSy or do any
fbing elfe that I had occafion to have done.

I told them, / did not know what Sort of Ground
we bad in the Bqttom^ and did not know but it might
he rocky J and would cut my Cable ; which, if it didy
I could exped notbingbut to drive to Sea^and perijb,
having no Way to efcape to the Land, and na
Boat, and neither the Moy nor I being able to fivim
one Stroke.

They bid me not be diftiearten'd, Rr they would
manage that welt enough ; j4nd, faid they, we two
that tarry*d with you on Board laft Night, will go
M to lowH to Night i and will go to the Governor

M 3 t%

C «5<! ]

as foon as we cme up^ and [peak to bim to order '
Men down to help you^ and will come down with
them our/elves ; and the other two Men who came
down to Day J will Ji ay on Board with yoUy to pump ^
or do any ^hing you defire them, that they can^ till
^e come back again y and if the Vejfeljhould drive
away^ you need not fear but what we would fafely
and fecurely get you afhore^ and the Boy alfo ^ and
pointing to me Crofi-jeck Yard which lay upon
Deck) they faid, IVitb that they could carry me
a hundred ^imes farther than from thence to the
Shore ^ with Eafe.

I thanked them ; and defir'd them to take a
little Flower up with them for the Prieft and Go-
vernor, and with it to give my Service to them,
and defire them to fend Ibme People down to
me, and to be lure to get Nicholau Verd to come
with them, becaufe he would be more ferviceable
than they, by reafbn he could make faft a Rope,
or do any Thing elfe much more handy than any
of them could.

They told me. It was better to let the Flower
alone ; becaule they had a long, as well as a
dangerous Way to climb up the Rocks, and that
it was now {o late, that were it not that my Ne^
ceffity required it, they fhould not care to climb
up thofe fteep, as well as rotten . Rocks y but
they would tell both the Prieft and Governor of
it, with the Reafons of their not bringing it up
with them, and defire them to fend feme • Body
down for it themfelves : So away they went
ftfhore.

It continu'd to blow at Night, as it had done
in the Afternoon y but towards Day it was a little
moderate, and the Sun rofe pretty clear, only, be-
fore his Rifing, it fliewed very hazy and fiery to
the North -Eaft and Eaft- North- Eaft Board,
which (he two Slacks that weri? oi) ^oard with

r '«7 ]

me, ikidy was a great and lure Sign of very hard •
Gales of Wind, as the Day increasM, and the .
Sun rofe up higher ; but more efpecially after the
Sun began to rail. All which came to pais very
exadly, though* I could fee nothing that portend-
ed any Thing of a hard Gale.

After the Sun had mounted about 30 Degrees
of Altitude,, it began to blow very hard, and
the Flaws came down the Rocks with an incredi*-
ble Force, even beyond what I could believe to
have been in the Wind, if I had not felt it :
Sometimes they would come right off the high
rocky Land, and Ibmetimes a counter Flaw
would blow right counter to that on the Land^
and raife up the Water beyond what I ever few
a Whale or ^Grampus do, to an almoft incredi-
ble Degree ; and if they took the Sloop at any
Time on the Bow, Quarter, , or Broadfide, ffie .
would heel to it, more than any Body would.
believe that had not leen it. Indeed rfiey did
not hold long, Ibme a Minute, or half a Minute,
Ibme came with a fudden Puff, and would be
gone again beft)re fhe brought her Cable taut,

I could not tell what to do ; but often wifhed
that the Boy and I were fafe afliore, and fi^
quently looked out/to fee if I could perceive
any of the Blacks coming down the Rocks to us ^
but all in vain.

About two in the Afternoon it ceafed a little,
but ftill continued to blow very hard, though
not in ftich ftrong Flaws as it did, and I began
to hope the Heart of the Gale was broke ; and
about three in the Afternoon, the two Blacks
who went up the Evening before, came down^
and {warn off on Board, and was glad to fee that
we were not drove out to Sea. S'bey were afraid^
they laid, tbey Jhould have been blown off the

]^ 4 Roeks^

[ i<58]

B^ocks^ as ibey were a coming down j ^nd told tm^,

They bad been with tbe Prieft and Pbe^GavernoTy
who bad told tbem^ tbey bad botb of tbem [poke tq
tbe People J and bad ordered fo many to come dow^
to ajjifi me^ that tbey tbougbt I bad bad Help be^
fore them : That thereupon they went to fpeak tq
the People ; but found them all unwilling to come
down J nor did tbey care fo give tbem any Reafon
wherefore ; Stbat tbey went alfo t^ find Nicholau
Verd, to get bim to cor^ewitb tbem^ as I had de^
fir^d them^ but tbey could not find him : That at
laft one told tbem tbe Reafon that none of tbem
would 'Venture to come down-^ which was^ that
Nicholau was afraid to come on Boards for feax I
Jhould carry bim to Sea again ^ and bad prepoffefs'(^
tbe reft with tbe like Fear.

They {aid, t'hey did all that tbey could to per*
fuade tbem that their Fears were groundlefs^ but all
in "vain ; wherefore^ feeing tbey fould not prevail
with any of them^ they came dowff themfelves to
let me know it^ and to, do me any Service tbey
could'

I thank'd them, and told them, fhe only and
bed Service tbey could do me^ was to get the Rope
ajhore^ as tbey did the Day before^ and make it well
faft J and then^ if the Cable at the Anchor gave
IVay^ I could always bale or heave the Sloop to tbe
Rockj and by that Means the Boy and I Jhould have
a fair Chance to fave our Lives.

They laid, If that was ail, tb^y would carry
me and the Boy ajhore now, and thfy wpuld ft ay in
the Sloop.

I thank'4 them, and told them, / would rather
ftay on Board, ipbile J bad any Hopes of faving
ber-y and wiflsrd tbey would carry a Rope ajhore,
which would be a Means to present the ylwhor"
Cable being fut with tbe Rocks, which otberways
J CQUld expeSi no lefs, b^ her ranging and fmeping

the Gfound fo with the Cable^ mtb the uMSf*
Uin and variable Flaws.

They faid they would ; (b I bid them carry
the finall Kope aftiore, and make it feft to the
Rock, and then we would hale the Sloop to the
Rock, and I would go afliore myfelf and make
feft the Cable ; which accordingly they agreed
to 5 fb I unreev'd the Topping Lift, the Main
Haliards, and Jibb Haliards, and bent them, and
three of the Blacks jumped into the Sea, one of
them taking the End of the Rope, the other two
taking the Bite at arDiftance, ^e one firom the
other, as I dire&ed them, and got the End
afhere, and made it faft ^ and then they camex)n
Board again, and I imbent the main Sheet, and
unreev'd it, which was a new Rope, that I had
bought at Barbadoes^ and bent it to the Cable
that was at the Anchor, to lengthen it, to veer
the Sloop to the Rock s which we did, by veer-
ing the Cable, and heaving in the Shore-raft, till
we hove the Sloop to the Rock Side, which was
as fteep up and down as a Key, and about two
Fathom Water at the Rock Side.

I then jumped afhore, and made faft an End
of a Cable to the Rock, and cafting off the Rope
from the Shore, I veered o% bv the Cable made
faft afhore, and hove in upon tne Anchor-Cable,
'till I got her off in her Birth again ; but ftill
being dubious of the Anchor Cable iweeping and
ranging* the Ground, I was willing to fee whether
it was rubbed, chafed, or ftranded any where,
and bending the main Sheet to the Shore-Cable,
to lengthen that, I hove a Peek on the Anchor,
and found it rubbed in feveral Places, and in one
Place, better than a whole Strand cut through.

My Delign was^ as the Wind then blew off
Shore, and not now extraordinary hard, though
ftill a taut Gale, and the Sloop riding altogetlunr

I ^70 1

by the Shorc-feft, to have hove the Anchor up,
and to cut the Cable off where it was ftranded,
and bend it again to the Anchor, and let it go
under Foot, and then veer upon the Anchor-
Cable, and heave in upon the other Cable that Vas
faft alhore, and fo ride moored : But all of a
Hidden, the Blacks laid down their Hand-Spikes,
and told me, I was going to carry them away
to Sea, and looked very angry : I told them, no,
and fhewed them the Cable where it was cut, -and
did all that I could to perfuade them out of their
Opinion, and urged my Neceffity for what I was
going to do, and that the Sloop could not be
faved without doing it^ and al£>, that I dared
not do it, imtil I had got a Cable && on the
Shore.

They told me, I had made it faft, fo that it
would loofe whenlbever I had a M ind it fhould,
and that it was only to amufe them, the better
to decoy them away : fhat if I had ferved fbme
of them that was upon the Ifland, as I intended
to ferve them, they would kill me diredly ; but
they would not do me any harm, but would run
no more Hazard, by aflifting me, to be carried
away to any Place, where they fliould never fee
their Friends or Ho(pe any more.

I endeavoured all I could to pacify them, not
knowing what Danger fuch a Notion might bring
me ioifo; and, perhaps, fix an Odium on me
from thofe, who, in all Likelihood, were to be
my Neighbours during a long Time ; at leaft,
longer than I defired, if not for all my Life ; and
at laft perfuaded them to lend me a Hand to iiale
in again the Shore-faft, and moor her again be-
tween that and the Anchor, which thev did, and
then began to talk to one another aoout going
aihore.

[ '7' ]

I did all I could to perfuade them to ftay on
Board, not fb much for their Affiftance, as for
fear they fhould fpread a Notion, that I was going
to carry them away from the Ifland ^ for I had a
good Cable End afliore, and well made faft, fo
that the Boy and I could, at any Time, heave
her in to the Rock Side, when the Anchor-Cable
gave way, and, without any Danger, in a man-
ner, ftep afliore.

I much importuned them to tarry with me this
rNight, and not to go afliore 'till the Morning.

They told me, / nti^bt endeavour to perfuade
them to this J in order to have the better Opportunity
to carry them to Sea in the Night.

I reprefented how unprovided I was^ both for
Sails^ Provijions^ and Water ^ 'which was the only
Keafon that brought me there : S'hat they all knew
very well^ I had not recruited in the leaft with any
thing fince I came there : Be fides y they were Four
firongy lufty Men^ and I hut one^ and weak^ and
balffamtjhed ^ and that the Boy could be reckoned
as no'body.

They told me, ^hat I had a Spring Guarda
( /. e. a Musket) and with it, could kill Twenty or
thirty ofthem^ and therefore they were fur e^ if they
refiftedj to be killed ; but would rather perijh bere^
than be compelled by Force to go with me ^ and^ that
that was the Keafon which made Nicholau Verd
jump over^bcard frsm me into the Sea^ and make bis .
Efcape to them^ becaufe he knew^ that as long as I
bad the Spring Guarra, / could, make him^ and a
Hundred more y if they fhould oppofe me ^ die^ or fub^
mit to what I required of them.

I told them. If that was what they were afraid
ofy I would bring it up^ and put it into their Hands j
for their SatisfaSiion and Security^ and thereby give
them an Occafionto fee^ that I was not at all c^aid
tQ v^turp my J^ife into tbfir Power ^ and that volun^

C »7* ]

tarily^ witb&ut any Compuljton^ motpe than the Dtfire
to fatisfy tbem.

Hereupon, I went down into the C^bbin and
brought it up, and it being loaden, I fired it ofl^
which a little furprized them ^ but I told them^
it was only to clear it, fb that it fliould not harm
them.

They took it, and feemed to be better latisfied,
and concluded, all Four of them, to ftay on Board
all Night, which they did ; during which, it xxm-^-
tinued to blow a taut Gale, with hard Squalls off
the Land, but nothing fb hard as thoie which we
had the preceding Day.

We pafled the Night as well as we could, and
diey would have had me gone to fleep ^ but I
could not all the Night, though, to pleaie them,
I went and lay down, but had too many Thoughts
to let me reft.

In the Morning it looked as it did the Day be-
^e, and, I thought, more fiery and red ; and
the Blacks told me, It would blow very hard as
ibon as the Sun was rifen up above the Mountains,
and, they believed, harder than it did the Day
before.

I told them. That I hoped their Fears which
they had of me the Evening before, were over,
^na that ther^ore, they would affift me to weigh
the Anchor, to cut the Cable v^ere I Ihewed
them, the Day before, it was ftranded, in order
to iecure the Sloop.

They faid. They woulft not meddle with it
yet, ^till fome more Men came down, which they
did exped.

I faid, I believed no-body would come down,
*till fome of them went up to Town.

They laid, Yes there would, for they were fore
ibme of them would come down on the Rocks to

iee yrhe^isr the Sloop was gone ot no, and as

fooa

C '7} ]

(bon as they iaw any cf them^ they would caU
to them^ and they were fure thev would venture
to come Qn Board, when they had fpoke to them ;
fo t was forced to be eaiy, and wait their L.ei-<
fure.

About Nine or Ten o' Clock, it began agaiil tto
blow much harder, if it was poflible, than it did
the Day befere, and we were all as wet, as if we
had been thrown into the Sea, with the Spray, or
what elfe you pleafe to call it, which the Sea
hove up into the Air like a Water-Spout ; infi)-
ttiuch, that fbmetimes we could not fee the Land,
though it was fo nigh and fb high.

We &w feveral People on the Rocks, but it
blew & hard, that they could not hear us, and
ibmetimes could not fee us, when the Spray was
whirled up by the fierce Guils encountering one
another.

About Twelve or one o' Qock in the Dav,
which was the 29 th of November^ 1722, the
Anchor-Gible parted with a G>unter-flaw on the
Land, and drove us on a Point of broken Rocks,
which lay in the Bay. We did all we could
to heave in upon the Cable that was £a& on the
South-Eaft Point of the Bay, to clear the Sloop
of that Point of broken Rocks, ovec which the
Sea broke very much ; but all in vain, for the
fierce Guft blowing right on, carried us upon
them, maugre all the Art and Diligence we could
ufe to the contrary, and fticking there, the Sea
ftruck fb forcibly, that it fbon made Way for the
Water to come in through her Bottom, and, in a
very ihort Time, the Water was aknoft as high
witnin, as without, and the Sea being raifed like
a Water-Spout, with the Violence of the Winds
encountering one another, fomething like the
Whirlwinds raifing the light Sands on the Dc-
{arts of Africa^ inlomucb, that >vc coi4d not fee

.C '74]

the high Lands over us, only the Shore tinder-
neath, and the Violence of the Sea and Weather^
ftruck fb upon the Sloop, that I expefted, at every
Stroke, the Maft would have jumped out, ana
could hardly tell which way to ftand, to be clear
of the Fall of it.

This frightful Situation: made all the Blacks
get afhore, and leave the Boy and I alone ; but
as the Sloop did not heave nor fbrike fb much when
the Bottom was broke and opened, fb that the
Sea had a free Paflage in and out, as it did before,
and the Boy crying and making a pitiful Lamen-
tation, and the Violence of the Flaw of Wind
beifig a little abated^ Two of them came off, their
Fright being a little over, and one of them took
the Bov and carried him aftiore : The other asked
me, it I would go, which 1 confenting to, he
advifed me to tarry 'till he went afhore and got
fbme more of them to help him, becaufe, the
funken Rocks were fb very (harp, and, in fbme
Places, the Water fb (hallow, that one of the
Blacks was very much cut by them, as he was
getting alhore ^ but if I had any Cloaths to fend
aihore, he faid, he would carry them with him
now, and then would come with fbme of his Con-
Ibrts to help me off.

Upon this, I gave him what Things I could
find fwimming about the Cabbin, and he went
down and fifhed all the old Cloaths and Rags he
could find, and went afhore with them, and af-
terwards came off with Two more, to carry me
likewife thither.

I would have taken the Crofs-Jeck-Yard, which
lay lathed to the Side upon Deck, to have fwam
upon, and they to guide it ; but thev faid. That
would be the Way to lofe my Life and theirs
too, becaufe of the fliallow Water over the funken
Rocks i adding, That if the Sea-Breaks fhould

dswc

C »75 ]

drive us againft another Rock, it would, pro-
bablyi beat them all to Pieces, and wafh me off
the Yard ; but when they had only me to take
care of, they ihould do much better.

I propofed Ibmething to help buoy me up, for
fear I fhould be too heavy for them, as 1 could
not Iwim at all; but they laid. They did not
doubt 4n the leaft, to convey me fafe, with the
Help of St. Anthonio^ who, they were lure, would
aflift them, becaufe they had iaid a Tadre nos be-
fore they came off.

Upon my telling them, I trufted in God and
Chrift to help me. They laid. So did they ^ but at
they had de fired St. Anthonio, it was the fame as
if they had asked God^ or Chrift ^ he being Goffi
Friendj who would not therefore deny him any thing ;
and they always chofe to ask him^ or any of we
Saints^ becaufe^ as they^were formerly Men^ they
had a thorough Senfe of their IVants^ and were al-^
ways compaffionatej and ready to help them.

So Tw:o of them getting into the Water,
the other ftaid to eafe me down to them, and
calling upon St. Anthonio to help them, and
bidding me call upon nw Saint to help me, after
they had fettled themlelves in the Water, they
bid me come in, which I did, and one took me
under one Arm, and the other under the other,
bidding me lie ftill in the Water, and to be
fure to keep my Feet together, that theV might
not impede theirs in their fwimming, while the
Third, leaning over the Sloop's Gunnel, held me
by the Head till they^ fixed and fettled them-
felves, and then they launched off, bidding me
not to fear, but truft in St. Anthonio^ which was
all one as to truft in Chrift : To which I made no
Anlwer, it not being a Time to argue, but com-
mended myfelf to the Almighty, who alone is
able to deliver out of Dangers.

4. KS0Q>N».

[ '7<5:]

About Midway, they Iwam with me over i
fliaUow Rock, which 1 touched with my Feet,
and juft as we got over it, a Sea came up with
us, and breaking upon us, one of the Blacks dived
down with me under Water, and then let me go,
which frightened me pretty much ; but the other
held me laft, and brought me up again, and the
Third Black, who iwam clofe after us, as foon
as he faw that I was quitted by one of them,
darted up along-fide of me like a Fifh, and iiip*
plied the Place of him who had fbrfbok me, and,
through the AfHftance of a merciful God, we got
iafe to Shore.

He that had flipped me In the Water, feeing
the other had taken hold of me, fwam back ag^n
to the Sloop, to fee if there was any Thing to be
got, worth &ving for me; and took down the
Lrookine-Glafs, which w%s fix'd up in the After-
part ot the Gibbin, and found three Stockings,
and a Fair of old Shoes ; all which he brought
afhore with him ; and bdfore he had well readied
it, the Stern, with the After-part of the Deck,
parted, and drove away 3 and preiently after
came two terrible Gu&s off the high Lands, tum-
bling down through Gullies in the Rocks, as
though they would over-turn the Rocks and Moun-
tains, and encountering one another on the Sur-
fece of the Sea, rais'd die Water to a great
Height i and the Counter-Guft overcoming the
other, brought down upon us fiich a heavy
Shower, like a Deluge, that we could not tell
where to get out of the Way of it, and, indeed,
I began to fear we fliould perifli^ notwithftanding
we were got fafe to the Land ; for where we were
come afliore, there was no Faflage for me to get
up, hardly high enough to keep clear of die Wa-
ter, when it was full Sea.

The

t

'i7'7 1

ttik Squdll being over, and the Air cleared a little
(after tHfe Water raifed up was fellen) the Figur^
t)f the Sloop was gone, het, Stern, and a Piece of
the iOeck, driving away ; the Off-fide of her was
broke from the Bottoiti, and the Maft was dowii,
which, however, the Rigging kept faft to the
Inner-fide, which, as yet, was not parted from
the Bottom.

The Natives who were on the Top of the Rocks^
iaw the Sloop come on the Ledge of the Rocks,
iand likewiie beheld us take to the Water, but
tould not fee whether we got afhore or not;
whereupon they made all the Hafte down that
they could, to fee what was become of us ^ and
about Two Hours, or more, after we got afliore.
Came to us to the Number of Five or Six, and
were very glad ^ve \(rere all got lafe to the Shore,
and feemed to take Abundance of Notice of the
Boy, feeirig him ib young ahd little, and pitied
him vefy much.

The Blacks ^Vho had been with me in thd
Sl6op, asked the others. Why they had not
brought them dowil fomething to eat?

They told them. That as fobn as they law the
Sea wafli over the Sloops and us take to thd
Water, they made the beft of their Way down to
aflift, if there was Occafion, to get the Captain of
the Slck)f>i arid his Child, afliore, becaufe they
knew that white People were not fb hardy, nor
tifed to the Water like the Blacks ^ and that there
Ivere a great Inany People coming (that could
not clamber down the Rock5 fb well as they) who,
they believed, had Ibmethiilg with them to eat.

Accordingly, in about Half an Hour, came
another Parcel of them down, and curfed the Way^
fi^ymg. They would not have ventured to come
down, if they- had known it had been fb bad ;
tad fbon after, came another Parcel, who brought

C '78 ]

With them Ibme Fompioiis, and fame Milk in ^
Caiabafh, and asked. Whether we could not make
a Fire ? they (aid, Th^ had nothing to llrike a
Fire with, neither had mey any Fewd to make it
with y one (aid, He had Steel, Tinder, and Cot->*
ton, and ibme of the others asked me. If the
Wood of the Wreck would not bum ? 1 told them
yes, very well^ at which, an elderly Man bid
tome of the young Men fwim offy and bring fbme
of the iinalleft and lighted: Pieces of Boards which
were fwinmiing about in the Water, which they
did, the Weadber being ibmething abated, and
the Sun beginning to ihine ^ notwithftanding
which, I fhook with G)ld, as alio did my wet
Companions.

But when the Wood was brought alhore, we
had no convenient Flace to kindle a Fire there,
Ac Beach being wet ^ and though the Water, by
this Time, was low, yet, ibme of them laic^
when the Sea filled again, it would overflow all
the Beach up to the l^odks ; others (aid not :
However they hunted about, and at laft found a
Place in the Rock, that was about Sixteen or
Eighteen Foot above the Flowing of the Sea,
and about Seven or Eight Foot broad, with the
Rock over-hanging: There they concluded to
make the Fire, and laid, That we that were
cold and wet, would have Room enough to fit
down and warm ourfelves, and for the reft, they
might do well enough without 5 and asked. Whe-
ther we could not boil fbme Fon^ion, to have
Ibmething hot to warm us within ?

I toki them, there were Tv/o Pots in the Sloop,
but I belic%^ed they could not be got now the
Sloc^ was broke, though they were left on the
reck, which was whole, and feftened to that
Part of the Sloop that ftuck on the Rock 3 but

that

C *75» 1

that it Vim probable the Sea had wafhed ttieiH
off, and that they were funk to the Bottom.

They faid. That fignified nothing y and that as
loon as it was moderate Weather, which, they
hoped, would be towards the Eyeriing, fome o(
riie youn^ Men ibould fwim off and get them, if*
the Sea had not carried them too &r, or dbrove
them under the ttoUow of the Rocks, be^
yond their Difcovery. Nor did they fear, they
laid, getting them, or any thing clfe that would
link, and not drive away too &r.

They then made me and the Boy drink fom6
of the Milk they had brought in the Calabafli ^
and feeing my Feather-bed fwimming about on the
Sea, Two of them fwam off^ and laved it, at^d
laid it upon the Rock to dry.

After this, Ibme of the Blacks went in queft oi
Wood to make a Fire with, and Ibme Grdls, iSci
to fleep on ; wMle others ftaid with us below all
Night, which we pafled as well as we could, it
proving moderate Weather, clear, and Starlight.

The next Day alio proved fine Weather, and
the Sun rifing clear and pleafant, and itgrowing
warm, Ibme of my Companions ^am offto feefc
for what they could find, the Bottom of the
Wreck ftill lying on the Ledge of Rocks, and the
Maft, and tome of the Rigging being entangled
there.

They brought Ibme fmall Pieces of finall Ropes
tdhore, and all the Bits and Pieces of Boards oii
"Which they found any Paint, efteeming them the
ticheft Shiff of all, and told me, there were the
Sails fall to the Maft, and asked me. Whether
tiiey Ihould lave them ? I told them, Iftheycould^
I (hould be vciy glad, and bid them lave that,
or any thing elie that could be laved ^ at which
they l^^'am off again, a Dozen or Fourteen of
tiXiUAp and diientangled the Maft, SaiU^ ^td

N a ^BJif^^^

[ .80]

Ropes, from the Wrect^ caftifl^ off^ or cntdnj
ivith their Knives, M^here it was fw:, and broi^h
the Maft, Boom, and Boltfprit, all entangles
and faft together, to the Shore, and we halec
them as far on as we could ^ and what Rope
we could get, ifre laid up as fecure as pofGble ii
the Clefts and Hollows of the Rocks. The Main
Sail was alfb waihed to Lint, in a manner, ther
not being a Piece to be found of it good for an]
thing ; and the Fore-lail was not in much bette
Condition ; for being fo rotten, the Sea had waflia
them almoft away, excepting a few gocd-for
nothing Jags which hung to the Bolt Rope
The Jibb . was pretty much torn, but being ;
found, as well as ifarong Sail, there was a prett
deal of that fit to ferve for feveral U&Sy a
indeed it afterwards did.

The Blacks laid. If we could any way faflei
and fecure the Maft, Boom, Boltfprit, Qc. ti
they could have a calm Day, they could to
them up to the Harbour called the Ovens^ and
might be, they might be ferviceable to me o
Way or another.

I told them, they would, and if any Ship h
pened to put in there, that fhould want tnen
could fell them for fomething, which (houlc
for their Benefit, to help make them Amend
this their Kindnefs to me, and the great Trc
they had been at to ferve me.

They faid, They were glad they had
of Service to me, and thought it their D
ferve any Stranger that was in Diftrefs, ^-as
notwithftanding they were of different C
and by us, diey believed, accounted i
Creatures : Yet diey thought we were all
Species, and thev were all Men, as we we
they allowed themfelves to be much
to ui in every thing.

i told diem. As £>r that, I did not fee any
Difference, only in the Colour, which I did not
know whether it was in their Nature, or whether
it might be occaiioned by the excefEve Heat of
the Sun, and could not tell but that if a white
Man and Woman were to come and live with
them, and go naked, and be expofed to the
icorching Sun as they were, in Three or Four
Generations, they might be changed to their/
Complexion.

They fiid. No ^ for they had heard, that not- ^
withftanding their Skin might lofe its Whiteneis,
and change to a reddifh or brown Colour, yet
their Hair would always liold its Nature, and not
be iirifled like theirs, which they took to be an
infallible Sign to know a Stranger, let his
Colour be what it would, ^ from one of them.
They faid moreover, That there was a Curfe
laid on them^ that they (hould always be Subjeds
and Servants to theAVhites.

I told them, I had heard fbmething of it (being
willing to continue them in their Efteem of us.)

They faid, They were convinced that I knew i
it, and believed, there was no White but knew
that the Blacks were by God deftined to be their
Servants, which was plainly manifefl: by the
white Men coming, as they have been told,
every Year to Guinea^ and carrying away a great
many Thouiands to be their Slaves ; and if thev
had not been by the Whites ( /. e. Portuguefe j
brought away from Guinea^ and, as it were, privi-
leged, or rather a Freedom indulged to them,
as well by the Brancas who brought them firft
hither, as alfb by all other Strangers, to whole
Power they lie open, they might carry them away,
and make Slaves of them, as well as thofe of their
firft native Country, whenever they pleafed^

N 3 tvn

[ ,8* ]

They Ikid, They did not know whether it were
a Favour vokintarihr given to dicm by all Na-
tions, or procured for them by the Brancas^ who
firft placed them there ; but in Gratitude, they
thought themfelves obligated to do all the Good
they could to Strangers, and to affift them in what-
feever they were able, and in a more efpecial
Manner Engli/hmen, who were always accounted
the beft Friends to the Portuguefe^ and one of
whofe Kings, they had been told, had married
]the King of Portugal's Daughter. This I con-
firmed to them ; and they pro^efled abundance
of Love, Value, and Refped to EngUjhnten^
whom, they &id, they efteemed as much as lAitf
did the Porfuguefe : Which pleaied me veiy
well, hoping to have friendly Neighbours of
them.

They continued, one or other of them, fwimr
mg about the Wreck all Day, bringing Pieces of
Boards, elpecially thofe that had any Paint oh
them ; and filled all the Clefts of the Rocks adja-
cent, with Pieces of Wood, Boards, ^c. and
ifeund both the Iron Pots, and brought them
afliore ; alfo an Iron Crow, a Pair of Stilliards,
the Gun that the Pirates had given me, though
the Stock was broke, alfb a finall Cooper's Adz^
which I had found one Day alhore on the Beach
at Barhacjloes^ and feveral other Things ^ all which
they put up in the Clefts, ^c. of the Rocks,
high enough out of the Reach of the Sea.

They all feemed overjoyed that the Pots were
fcund, and faid. That now I might dreis my
Viduals my own 'Way (as though I coidd drei^
it a Jot the more my Wif in the Iron Pot,
fhan I could in one of their Earthen Pots) •
They found ieveral othflr Things, as the Cook's
Tormenters, a Pair of Bra£ Compafles^ and a Pair
flf :Elr^& Dividers, 4 Tin JLcttle ^d Sawcepan^^

C '8} ]

a Chiflel, a caulking Iron, and feveral otlier
trifling Things.

Tl]us Manner of their findii^ them was thus ^
Several Places about the Wreck, to and from the
Water, were fo (halk)w, that they could ftand up-
on the Tops of the iunken Rocks widi the Wa-
ter up to &eir Breafts, their Navels, and in fbme
, iPlaces not So high, and the Sea being pretty
fmooth, as it always is here in fine Weather (this
little Bay of PuBta de Sal^ lying on the Lee-fide of
the Ifland) they could look all round about them
on the Bottom, which they could fee very plain,
in four, five, or fix Fathom Water, d5>ecially
where the Bottom is Stony or Rocky, and I my
felf have feai little Shells, c^^r, from a Rock down
to the Bottom, in fix, feven, and even in ten,
or twelve Fathom Water : And 'tis a commcHi *
Pradice with the Blacks, for their Diverfion, when
they have done fifhing, to ftand on the Rocks and
heave Stones into the Water, and for others to
dive and bring them up, at which Exercife they
are very expert, and account it no Piece of Dexteri-
ty to dive to the Bottom in four or five Fathom^
and when there, to fearch and creep along for a
Minute, or better.

We put on one of the Pots with fome Pompion,
and fome of thofe who went in the Morning to
Fifc, came back about Noon with a good Mels,
which we boiled with the Pompion, and made a
hearty Meal.

The Place of the Bay where we came afliore,
was the worft Place that we could poflibly land at;
for they were forced to Iwim from thence to the
Fifhing-places, and alfo for Watery though at low
Water, a Man might have made fhift to crawl
along the Rocks to where the Water was, which
came out of a Rock ftilling down into a hollow
Flace like a Ciftem ^ but that way was fo troublc-

N 4 feiMi^

[ '84 ]

fbme, as v/ell as dangeroui, by Rcafon of the
Rocks and Stones tumbling very frequently down
from the Mountains overhead ^ that they chofe
rather to Iwim always for the Water, thaji . to go
that way for it. « ' J

Aboy t one or two o Clock, the Governor fent
a Man down to me, to tell me he was very fbny
for my Misfortune, and gave his' Service to m^
and defired, that when I came up to Town, 1
would make ufe of his Hpufe as my own, and th^t
I fhould not want for any Thing which their poor
Ifland afforded \yhile I reniaiped on it: and withal,
fent me down Ibme Pompion and three or four Po-'
tatoes ^ declaring. That his lUnejG had prevented
his coming down to me-, and hoped I would not
take it amifi; and alio, diat he had fent feme Men
out that Morning to hunt for feme wild Goats ;
but they were not returned, the Meflenger faid,
when he came from Home ^ but if they came
time enough, he would fend me fome that Night ^
if not, I ihould have fbme Venifpn on the Mor-
row, without fail.

i tol^ him, I was obliged to the Sigmr Gover-^,
nadoxy and thanked him ; and a little while after,
came a Black from the Prieft, with the fame Com-
pliment from him ; but brought nothing to eat as
the Governor's Black did, and told me, that his;
Mafter defired to know. Whether I had faved any
Flower, andif I had, he requeftec^ me to fend him
fome by him , and that if I had faved any Aqua
Ardenta alfb, his Mafter wpvild be no lefs glad of
it, though he had not bid him ask for any.

I told him, we had very little of either on
Board , but our Diflrefs was lb great, that if there
had been never fb great a Quantity, we fhould
not have been able to fave any, when the Sloop
run on that Ledge of Rqcks ; Addingj That all
we had been able to fave from the Wreck, was

the

the Pieces of Board, ^e. which he fiw about U3,
•and thofe Iron Pots.

Hefeid, his Mafter wa^ more able to dome
Service, than even the Governor himfelf ^ and he
believed, if I prefented him one of thofe Pots,
it would be very acceptable ; ^nd that it would
be nothing in Comparifbn to the • Benefit he was
capable of doing me in Return.

I told him. That I was fbrry I had nothing to
oblige his Mafter with^^ wor^y his Acceptance s but;
ihould be proud he would receive £rom ine any
Thing that had been left me by my hard For-
tune.

About four in the Afternoon^ he and the Go-
vernor's Black went away 5 I bid them preien(
my humble Service to their Mafters, hoping I
fliould have the Happinels of always continuing
in their Favour and Efteem, and it ftiould be my
conftant Study and Endeavour to deferve it.

They (aid, I need not doubt it ^ for their Ma-»
fters profefsM abundance of Concern for my Mif^
fortune, as well a§ a great Affection for my Per-
ion, though unknown to then^ by Sight 5 and they
' both had heard their Mafters fey, that I fhould
want for nothing that the Iflaiid afibrded, whil^ I
rejnained on it ^ fo away they went.

Son\e time after, among other Blacks that came^^
down, came one called, Domingo Gunff^s^^ .who
was Son to Aiitqnio Gumms^ who ha4 ^ripcrly
been Governor o{ the Iflanc^ ; who, tog^tJ^r TOth
his Brother, brought down fome Pompions,' Ba-
nana's, a Pappai, and a Cake of Bread, made
of Banana*s and Maiz, which was the firft Bre^d
I had eat or feen, fince I came among theni :
Domingo told me, that his Father fent me f he
Pompion and Fruit, and his Mother the Cake, and
if Ilik'd it, Ihe would make me fomeippre, ^d
iend me 5 and likewife df^ed to kno\^ If 1 Iov'4

^.

[ >8<5 ]

Milk ; and if I did, I fliould have fome fent
down.

I thanked them very kindly, and told them,
that Milk was what I often ufea to eat in my own
Country 3 and tafting the Bread, at his Defire,
told him I lik'd it very well s and he Odd, he was
glad of it, and aflured me, that I ihould have
more.

I thanked him, and told them, I gave them all
abundance of Trouble, and had received many
Favours from them, but was not in a Capacity of
making any luitable Returns, otherways, than by
a grateful Acknowledgment of their Kindnelfles at
prefent ^ and a Refolution, that if ever God Al-
mighty (hould be pleafed to make me able here-
after, I would make them, as &r as in me lay^ a
grateful Satis^dUon.

They faid. They did not defirc any Thing in
Return, but to continue in my good Efteem, and
to let my Country-men know, how kindly I had
been uied among them y and that no other Re-
tutn Would be required by them, or any of the
Iflanders, unlefi tne Prieft, who they heard was
always very craving, as well from Strangers, as
al^ frdm the Natives 5 and therefore, he thought
it was convenient to give me this Caution, for
fear he might be begging any Thing of me ac-
cording to his ufual Wont.

I told him, I had nothing in the World left me
here, that would be worth any Body's asking, or
my giving.

He faid, that if I had never & much, he was
lure no Body would defire any Thing from me,
but would rather give me, if they had any Thing
that would be o? Service to me, and that the
utmc^ of what they defused, was, as he had txAd
me be&re, to be Noted^and to be had in Efteem
by Strtaag^s ; and weiCTfcrry that their Mand af-

C '87 ]

lorded nothing worth the Stranger's while to come
;and traffick for.

I told them. That I believed, when it pleafed
God, that I retum'd to my Country, and gave
tfiem an Account bf their Civility to Strangers, t
did not doubt, but (bme of our Shipping would
coftie and vifit them.

He iaid. If their Ifland had any Produdion
that wai worth their while to come and traffick
for, it might be fo i but that, as far as he could
learn, by what hfe heard from his Father and other
old Men, wjio could remember the coming of fe-
Veral Strangers to it, mdSt of whpm were of that
Nation which had robbed me, Q'viz. Pirates^ for
they thought it was a particular Nation fo called^
who, though they ufed me fo hardly, he faid, wei^e
very civil to- them, making large Requitals fer
every little Favour they were able to Ihew them ;
and who would often t?ll them, that their Ifland
was very poor, and that they lived exceeding mife-
rable, in Compa?rifon of what the white Men did,
in their own Country ^ and that their not having
any Produftion that was good for any Thing,
wa$ die Reafon fo few Ships came to vifit them.

I told him. It was very true, that our Ships lel-
dom or never came there, becaufe it was not
known to us, that they had any Commodities
worth trafficking for ^ but that, perhaps, their
Ifland might yield valuable Commodities, but the^
and we both, might be ignorant of them, or what
might be produceid in them by Art.

I then inltanced how ignorant the Portuguefe
were of the rich Produftions of Gutnea^ at their
firft Difcovcry of that Coalt, and how little the
InhabitDits thereof regarded thofe rich Commt>-
dities, which it almoft every where affi>rded, by
reafon they knew not the Value of them, norths
piajiifold Ufcs to which they contributed, both for

C ■«« ]

Pleafure and Profit to Mankind ; and that in thofe
Times, the Blacks fet a very inconfiderabie Value
0n Gold, and Ambergreafe, and lefi on Teeth,
Wax, ^c. and that they were intirely ignorant ot
any other Ufe for their Woods, which now were
a confidcrable Part of the Trade, but for Firing.

All the Time that was I was taltwig thus, I ob-
ierved, that one Man of the Company, iiftcn'd,
with more than ordinary Attention, to our Di&
courie ^ and ey'd me coB^^tly, whofe Com-
plexion was very difierent from any of thpfe %
had yet feep ; for all the reft were black, and had
.G>al-black fiizled Hair, unlefs changM by Age to
Grey, like the Blacks on the Coaft of the main
Omtinent q£ Guinea^ but he was of a ruddy, copper,
or tawny G>lour, ibmething refembling the Moors
or Arabs on the Southermoft Parts of Barbary^
and had ftrait, tho" fhort Hair, and of a light
brown Colour.

This Man, a^ fbon as I had finifli'd my Talk,
to my exceeding Surprize, as well as Joy, an-
i>^'er*d me in the Englijb Tongue, That what I
had faid was very true, and that there were many
rich Commodities, to his Knowledge, produced in
the Nothermoft Part of Guinea^ which as well the
Englijb as the Natives were utterly ignorant of ;
they of their \i€t and Value,^ and we of their being

Eroduced in that Part ; and therefore, what might
e as plentifiil and as eafy got, and perhaps coft lefs
there, is fought for in other more diftant Places,
with greater Difficulty, Danger, and Charge, as
he experimently knew, having been an Inhabitant
in thofe Parts fome confiderable Time, occafion'd
by Misfortunes, as I might now be here ; by
which Means he had an Opportunity to obfervc
the Commodities produced in the inland l^laces of
^t P^ pf the Continent.

C «89 ]

Upon : my asking him. What Country-man he
was ? he told me. He was a Weljhman bom, and
had been Mafter of feveral Ships out of Briftol:
That he had been taken by Bartholomew Ro-
berts^ as he was going to the IVefi-^Indies^ and
by him was detained, and brought on the Coaft
of Guinea^ from whom he there made his Efcape,
and having formerly traded to thofe Parts, as
well as to moft Parts of Guinea^ he was acquaint-
ed with almofl all the Coaft along : That it was
at Scirra Leon that he had made his Efcape,
from Captain Roberts the Pirate, and got to a
Black King up the River, whom he formerly in
his Trading had been acquainted with, who en-
tertained him very courteoufly, and promifed him
his Prote^on and Afliftance, againft all that
Ihould oppofe or offer to moleft him :
* That altho' Roberts ulcd all his Endeavours to
get him agdn, thro' the Intereft of thofe Blacks
whom he had won by his Prefents, by whom
he had offered to the faid King feveral Prefents,
of confiderable Value, as the faid Black King
told him, yet the King, would not except any,
but fent Roberts Word by the faid Blacks, that
he was not of fb bafe a Principle, as to be-
tray any difbefled Perfbn who had fled to him
for Succour, efpecialiy to fiich cruel Enemies
to all manner of honeft Trade and Traffick, as
he underftood they were ^ and withal, gave him
to underfland, that he neither (tood in want of •
his Money, Cloaths, Arms, or Ammunition,
having enough of every Sort, and a thoufand
ftout Men, that underftood how to ufe Arms,
as well as his Men did, for all they were black ^
and who were always ready to receive him, if
he dar*d prefume to come within his Territories,
to ofler the leaft Incivility s and that if a thou-
fand would not be fufficient to make him fenfi-

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C '9' 3

but withal told him. That if he thought diC
EngUjb Governor would do him any harm, he
would by no Means deliver him up 5 but bid
him confider and advife him what Aniwer to
iend, alluring him, diat let his Cafe be how it
would, he was refblved to prote& him, but
withal thought it beft, if he was guilty of any
Adfcion which would render him obnoxious to
Danger, to acquaint him with it, that he might
take the beft Meaiiires, both to fecure him
from any harm, and to give the Governor as
little Dii&tisfadUon as might be/
^ That he told the King, that he never had
been guilty of any ill Adtion that might make
him liable to Punifhment ; but, perhaps, the
Governor might fuppofe he had been one of
Captain Koberts^s Company, and left behind by
chance, and therefore might think he deferved
to be puniihed as fiich y but he could afTure him
he was not, but was forced and kept a Frifbner
on board of them, till he made his Eicape ^ but
yet told the King^ he did not care to be put
into the Hands or the Englijh Fai9:ory, being a
Stranger to Governor Plunket^ as well as to the
reft of tlie Gentlemen of the Fadtonr, who per-
haps might conceit him to be one of the Pirates
Company, and disbelieve what he iaid, and
therefore, though undeservedly, punifh him, as
though he had been actually or willingly a Pi-
rate i for which Reafon, if his Majefty pleafed,
he would rather fiill continue to be under his
Prote&ion, till fome Ship came .thither to trade,
the Captain or Company of which mi^t know
his Charader or Family, of which he was very
certain fow Ships that came icaoi England to
thefe Parts to trade, but what the Commanders,
or fome Bodv belonging to them, muft be ac-
quainted with him.

* 1*hat the King upon this gave him his Wfitci,
and fwore by his Darting Gdd, he Ihould not^
be delivered into the Power of any Body,
' but by his own choice ^ and accordingly fent
Word Co Govemof Plunket^ ^dt the IVhite^ un^
der bis ProtedioUy was not d/ tb^ Pirates Cdm-
pany^ hut by Compulfion^ baling been taken hy
Force^ and detained a Prtfoner^ and efcaped from
tbentj wben tbey arrived tbere^ and in ordeif to
avoid being taken by tbtm again^ bad tbrbwn
bimfelf upon bis Pfoteflion^ not being acquainted
tbat tbere was an Engliih FaStory tbere^ wbicb
if be bad kn6wn^ without Doubt^ be would bave
appl/d to for ProteHion : ^bat upon tbefe Con^
fiderations^ be could do no lefs tban fuccour and
defend bim^ as a Stranger in Diftrefs • wbicb be
bad tbe father done, as he was one of the Go*
pernors Countrymen^ between whom and him there
bad always been a good Underftanding^
' That the King alio acquainted the Goverttor,
that be CFranklin) had a Mind to continue uoitb
biin^ to inform bimfelf of tbe Cuftom and tirade of
bis Country: fhat he approved his Deportment
and Converfation, and therefore gave him Leaw
to do fo '^ but tbat^ if be thought fit to go to the
Governor^ or tbe Governor would fend to bis
Jownj to inform bimfelf fartbet concerning bim^
they were equally at Liberty to do fo -^ difclaiming
all thoughts of keeping Franklin againft bislVillj
or in Breach of the Friendfhip wbicb had always
fubfifted between bimfelf and tbe Engliih Fa*
6iory!

' That hereupon Governor Plunket fent up ai
white Servant of his, with two Blacks, to inquire
into the Matter, and to know Franklin^ s Name ;
which as loon as they had been informed of,
they returned. The Governor taking him for one
o£ thsit Name who was a notorious Pirate, he

C »93 ]

fent Word again to the King, ^hat be was ce¥^
tainty one of the Pirates^ and not what be repre^
fented bimfelf to be^ and therefore defired tbat the
King would deliver bim into bis Hands ; by wbicb
Means be would not only manifeft bimfelf to he a
Friend to tbe wbole Englifli Nation^ but to tbe
bmefi traders of all Nations.
' That hereupon the King fent for him again,
and acquainted him with die Meflage, and told
him, that he was very unwilling to give the£»g;-
lijb FaAory o( Sierra Leon any Diftafte, but was
ftill firm in his Reiblution, not to put him into
their ^ands, if he thought it would be any
ways prejudicial to him, or if it was contrary to
his Inclination ; and, therefore, defired him to
order it fb, that the Englijh might not be dif^
obliged on one Hand, nor his Safety endangered
oh the other/

Franklin then continued to tell us, ^ That hav-
ing acknowledged the King s Goodnefi to him,
he defir'd to be lent farther into the G>untry,
to fbme neighbouring King of his Acquain-
tance, out of Governor Plunkefs Knowledge,
and qwtifequendy out of his Reach or Influence/
Upon which I interrupted him, and faid, I do
not fee wbat Danger or Hazard you could he in^
by being in Governor Plunket'j Hands ^ hut ratber
I/houla tbink it would have been tbe heft Method
you could have taken ; for they would not have hurt
you^ if your Cafe bad been as you fay.

He replyM, ^ It was very true ^ neither was
he afraid that they could do him any harm, but
that there was one of his Name, who had been
a Pirate, and a very noted one too ^ and asked
me. If I never had feen the Name of Charles
Franklin^ notified in the London Gazette ?' I
told him, I could not then call to Mind that I
tad. He faid, ' It was poffible I might forget

I »94 ]

to have feen it ^ but he had read it feverai
Times, and his Name being the fame, he did
not care to run himfelf into the Danger of a
long Confinement, and to be obliged to take his
Txyal as a Criminal, being deicended of an
ancient and worlhit)ful Family, none of whom
were ever tainted with the leaft Imputation of
Guilt either to their King or Country ; tho*
it was morally impeflible but he ihould be ac-
quitted of Pyracy, upon a fair Tryal : Befides,
he faid, he had another Reafon to induce him
to be fent up the Country, which was a Curiofi-
tf natural to his Temp«*, to fearch and difco-
ver unknown Places i and being fenfible that
this Coaft of Africa in general abounded with
Gold, beyond any Continent in the World,
and having alio learnt from his Converfation
with the Natives, that the Parts far within
Land abounded with Gold, and from whence
what of that Metal they had, proceeded,
it made him defiroiB to fee inta it, now
that fb plaufible an Occafion offered, which,
perhaps, no European ever had before : And
this Enquiry, he ^id, was the more pteaifing to
him, becaufe having ferved an Apprenticefhip
in Briftol^ to the Goldfmith's Trade, and
wrought at it in feveral Places, he had attained
to a tolerable Knowledge of the Nature of Me-
tals and Minerals, and had endeavoured as
much as he could, to inform himfelf in fbme
of the greatefl Myfteries of fufii^ as well as
feparating Metals from Minerals, as well as one
Metal from another ^ and that in his trading oil
the Coaft of Guiney^ he had made the niceft
Experiments on the mineral Earths, Stones,
Sands, ^c. and had coUeded, with the greateft
Exadtnefs he was capable of, the Value and
Quantity of MetsUi contamed in them, which

i: '?5 1

* Experiments and Obfervations he had takeri

* down Memorandums in Writing of. '

I told him, I hoped to have a 6rther.and bet-
ter Opportunity to renew our Difcourfe on this
Subject ; but wifii'd at prefent he would give me
ibme Account of the Produftion of this Ifland^
and of the Temper of the Inhabitants ^ that I
tnightj fmce it was my Lot to be caft among them,
io coir^rt myifelf, as to win their Favour, and
avoid any Otcafion of dilgufting them. He £aidj
It was the greateft Happineis he coutd hdve hoped
(dv to have a G>untryman to convetfe with , and
would very readity comply with that,^ and every
bdier Requeft I mould make him, vjrhich he was
able to fatisfy. * As for this Ifland, he feid, 1
might eafily, at firft Sight, difcover, that it was
exceeding barren, being nothing but one conti*
nud.R6ck, as it were, and only here and there
in the Glfefts and Vaffies, cover'd over with a
thin Cruft of Earth, which produced nothing
that would be thought fit Aliment for the hu-
man Species by an European^ "who had never
been ufed to thefe barren rocky Mountains :
That, however. Bananas grew pretty well in
Ibme of the Valliesj but were nothing near fb
large as on the Continent : That in fevcral Places
at the Foot of the Mountains, where there is
any Earth, Pompions and Potatoes grow pretty
well 5 that they had likewife a large Quantity of
FeflioonSj and wild Figs, which were generally
eaten by the Natives for Food ; as alio a pretty
many Papains ^ and that thbfe who would take
the Pains to plant it, had Maiz enough; hut
that tiie Natives were generally fb flothful and
lazy, that in a great meafure it was the Caufe
of theit Poverty: That there was Store
of Vety good Fiih iibout the Illand ; and that
there had beeil confiderable Numbers of good

O 4 ^ ^^^^

ft

C '90 .

^ wild Goats ; but f hat moft of them had been

* deftroy'd : That fome of the Inhabitants had
^ Cows, Horfes, Aflfes, and Hogs, of which laft

* Sort they had the moft Plenty 5 but feldom made

* ufe of any of them, except at their publicfc:
^ Feafts/

•I ask'd him, How they caught their Filh ? He
told me, ^ That fbme of them had Filh-hooks
left yet, which they had got when Ships had
been there, and others had preferved Nails,
Pieces of Iron, Wire, and the like, which they
were very eager to procure at all Opportunities,
and very chary of when procured : That there
was an old Man on the Ifland, a Native of St.
Philip J who had a Hammer and three or four
Files, who macfe Charcoal out of the Wood of
the wild Fig-Tree, by Help of which, he made
Ihift to bungle up a Hook out of an old Nail,
for doing of whjch, he had another Nail ^ and
the Party for whom he made the Hook, was
always obliged, as often as he got a Mefs of
Fifli, to ma^e him a Prefent of fome ; fo that,
laid he, the old Farrier^ as they call him, fel-
dom wants Fifli, and often fiipplies his Neigh-
bours with fome, when they ftand in Need
thereof' . He added, ' That the Fifli about this
Ifland were fo voracious, that a bended Nail
would take them ^ fo that there was no fear of
catching Fifli enough.'
I faid, I was glad there was no Apprehenfion
of ftarving ; and that I could fave fo many Nails
out of the Pieces of the Wreck which the Blacks
brought afliore, that I fliould not grudge to give
the old Farrier three or four of them for fixing
me one, or for lending me his Hammer and Files
to make them myfelf ; for I had made a great
many Fifliing-Hooks in my Time with a File.
He faifi, It would be an cafy Matter for me to

\ exceed

C »97 ]

exceed the Black ; for he himfelf made all the
Hooks that he fiihed with, and likewife for the
Family that he lived among s and that every Body
knew them from thofe made by the old Man, and
preferred them to his : But, faid he, you will have
no Occafion to go a Fifhing ; for I will engage,
they will fiipply you with Fifli, or any Thing
elfe which the Ifland aflbrds, without your feeking
for it.

He added. That they would have been equally
civil to him ^ but that he chofe to fifli for himfel]^
to divert his melancholy Hours ; and that it was
principally to this Divcrfion, and Hunting, that
he ow d the Prefervation of his Life, or at leaft
his Senles, in his great Misfortunes. But that, as
for Hunting, I ihould find very little Pleafiire in
it, and that it would be even impracticable for
me, till my Feet were hardened, as his were, be-
cai:d(e of the clambering up the broken and rotten
Rocks, which were equally difficult and dange-
rous.

I ask'd him. How long he had been on this
Ifland? He faid. Something above three Years 5
but he had been on the Ifland of St. Philip fome
time before he came hither; and when I was
diipofed to hear it, he would continue*the Rela-
tion of his Misfortunes to the Time of his coming
upon this Ifland.

I faid, I fhould be very much obligM to him
for the Favour of fuch a Relation ; and took No-
tice, that the two Blacks who came down in Com-
pany with him, feem'd, as I thought, by the ex-
traordinary Attention which they paid to our Dif^
courfe, to underftand what we faid. He faid.
No, they were ignorant of every Word we faid,
excepting two, which he had taught them, to wit,
/iy and No.

O 3 W<yw-

C '98 3

However, turning to Domingo Gumms^ I a^'d
him, How he did? and whether he underftood our
Language ? He iaid. No 3 he wUh'd he did ^ and
that he would give any Thii^ in his Power to be
Mafter of it s but that he was glad we coiil4 lu^
derftand one another.

Hereupon FrankUn told them. That I was his
Countryman ; which feemM to iiirpriae Domimp^
who faid,^ he thought him to be a Gaulego^ (i. e.a
U^elJI^man) and tlut I was an Efiglifhman.

I told him. That the Place wbei^ Signior Ca-
tolas (which they pronounce Singore^ and was thie
Name that he went by among t^e Natives) y/m
born, was a Part of England^ calW Gualego^ as the
Bay we were then in was call'd th^e Bay of the Salt
Poifit^ and yet ftill was a Part of the Mand of Sfc
John's.

It ibon paft about among all the Blacks there
preient, that Singore Carolos was an EngUjhman y
and they all feverally a^M me. Whether it was fo
or no ? it being their Manner always to trace aay
Relation to the Soiu*ce or Fountain-head, before
they wdll give Credit to it, and not take any Hear-*
j&y Account, if they can get any other.

I fatisfy'd their Curiofity ; and askM Franklm
What Sort o£ a Way it was up to their Town ?
He faid. It was fb bad, that I fhould never be
able to get up it 3 and the more dangerous, be-
paufc the Stones and Rocks were {o loofe and rot-
ten, that a Man could not be fecur^, either in
what he refted on with his Feet, or any Hold he
could take with his Hands.

I ask'd him, How fo many of them came down,
if the Way was {o hazardous ? He {aid. It was
hazardous enough for them 5 and he heard feve-
ral of them complain of the Dangeroufnels of the
Way, and fay. If they had known it had been fo
perilous;, they would not have ventured to come

C «99 ]

down ; for, laid he, it is to be queftion'd, v/he-
ther there be one Perlbn living on the Ifland, that
ever has been down to this Place before now ; and
it is probable, if it had not been on this Occa-
fion, there might never any of them have come
here, where we are now. It^s true, laid he, they
often come down to that black Point that you
came round before you anchored, to gather Salt
for their neceffary Occafions, from whence, I be-
lieve, it tock the Name pt the Salt Point ; but
then the Rocks where they come down to that,
are Ibund and firm, and though very fteep, yet
not fo fteep, by a great deal, as the Way that
comes down here. •

I obje6ted. That I thought I was as able to get
up, as leveral ancient Men that I law, and as lip
himfelf, who was more corpulent thanl : But he
laid. That yie was a great Matter in that Cale ;
and he had been on mis Ifland, and St. Philips
(which was as bad or wori^) nigh fix Years^ and
yet, for all that, there were leveral of the Natives,
v/ho were very ancient, as well as corpulent, and
leemingly decrepid through Age, in Compari^
of him, yet could climb up Rocks without either
Fear or Appreheiifioa of Danger, which he nei-
ther could, nor darefl to attempt ^ and befides, he
was forced, he laid, to Iwim near half a Mile, or
he fhould not have been able to have come hither
tome.

How muft I do then, laid I, if I can proceed
no ferther, and yet at high Water have not here
lb much Room to ftand, or walk upon, as half a
Ship's Quarter-Deck ? I Ihall be worfe than a
Peribn pent up in a Iblitary clofe Prilbn all his
Days.

He laid. He would ask the Blacks ^ who were
moft - of them ftanding round about us, liftning
8S attentively to what we had been dilcouriing all

O 4 ^6:«Sb,

[ xoo ]

tis Trrar, as Aaa^ tfaey had underftood every
Word vc bad litd. He aocDrdingly ask'd them
der O^iBaoEB, vfao cooSnn'd all he iaid as to the
Ddkdbr- £j|icciailT, as dicy iaid, that they flip*
poi'd I ccxSd not gp witfaout Shoes among fuch
ftsKp-pcazQod r^S^ Rocfc% as I Ihould meet
mth o the War. I told them. That was very
tnar « bat I fiftpos'd, that when once a Man had
cHefibod cp to the Top of the Roclcs, the Way
«K i cnw ifij^g bcacr, and more level.

TbcT fijd k vas ^ bat that it was a great Way
to set c> the Top - aod ask'dm^ Whether I toc^
as nr as I cooU fie to be the Top. I told them,
TcL Tlity &dj That which I iaw now, and
took to be the Top of die Rocks, was not the
Inodicddi Fart of that Hei^ diat I muft dimb to,
befareloonld conie to the Top ; For, iaid one, for
wpf Fcrt, I can hardly tdl whidi is the Top. An«
edicr &d. The Middle of die Ifland is the Top ;
fx dK Rjocks and Groimd rofe continually till
coe came to the Middle of die Ifland. FrankJiu
bempCQ proposed to them to give me a more in^
td^ible Acooont of the difficult Situation of th^
2&nd : Thss dii|:afted the Bbcks, who thought
he p r gfrtwfcd to know die Country better than
tbev ; aad ooe of them re&nted it accordingly,
raisr^ his Vosce^ and contra&ing his Brow, and
wookr^d he Ibcxiki pretend to give a better Ac*
count rhin they could do, who were ufed to tra-
^^ to iuch unjBrt^uented Paths on Account of
Fdhtng, which he dared not zsxaopt to go in,
were he to ftar\x fcr want of Food. He ex-
cised himfelf very fubmiffivdy, profefEng he did
not mean it £>, and that he could not pretend to
know the liland near £> wefl as they s and that
all he could mean was. That being able to dif*
courle me in my own Language, he was the more
eatable to make m<: underfbuqd what he S/aid :

An4

C lOl ]

And he hoped they would, riot be offended, at
the Liberty he took to difcourfe me in my own
Tongue.

They feeing me a little lurpriz'd and concerned
at their Refentment, foften'd their Tone, and
told him. They were heartfly glad he could talk
with and divert the Captain, and that diey would
have him talk with me in that Language that
pleafed him beft y but as I could very well talk
their Language, they ihould rather we would,
becaufe they Ihould then have the Advantage of
hearing fome Things, which they never knew or
heard of before ; but however, tliey defir'd I
would pleafe myfelf, and they woidd difpenfe
with their own Satisfadion, fer the Sake of add-
ing to mine.

I told them, I was mudh oblig'd to them 5 but
finding Franklin was of my own Opinion, that
he had half angerM them, which he fkid was
owing to the Jealoufy they had, that be Ihould
ftand better in my Graces than they ; I told him.
We Ihould have, I doubted, but too many Op-
portunities to difcourfe together, and {6 would
forbear at prefent to &y any Thing more which
mighf augment their Su4)icions.

By this Time, Night approaching, fbmeof the
Men thought it beft to go feek for a Place more
convenient to take up their Abode, before it was
too late : But Domingo and Franklin^ and two or
three more, ftaid with me. Some of them, as
they were going away, ask'd Franklin to go
wim them y for that they Ihould fare much better
than they could below, as hardly having there .
Room to lie clear of the Sea, nor any Shelter
from the Wind. Franklin feemM inclinable to
go y but upon Domingo^ telling them. That he
thought Singore Carolos had more good Manners
in hiQi, as w^U as good Nature, than to leave

[ 20i ]

bis ComtfyvATi the firft Night y he told them.
That he could not well leave the Captain to Night,
and bid them that went, not to forget to go and
catdi a Difli of Fife, and Iving it tx> me in the
Morning for my Breakfeft. They {aid. That
csiow of them would flay till die Monung to
catch a DHh of Fifli. I thank'd them, axid askM
them. How 6r up the Rocks they defigaM to go ?
They told me. They ftiould not go very high
dut Night s but they had a long Way to fwim
from the Point, over rfie other Bay, (pointing
towards the Weftward) to the Point call'd P^
carree Pickyeana^ and dien a little ways up.

I told them, I thought it would be cold fwim^
ing now in diie Evenings Theyiaid, No Rrce^
(which is a very common Word with theie Peo-
ple, as well as among the Portuguefe^ from whom
prci^ably they leam'd it) and that after they had
fwam crofi me Bay, they had then but a little
Way to go, before they came at a Fuurna^ or Cave,
large enough to Ihelter a hundred Perlbns or more
from Rain or Wind ; and there was always Wood
enough there, or thereabouts, which the People
brought down with them, every Time diey came
there to filh ; and that if it was not lat^ they
could catch a Difh ft>r their Suppers, and would
fend me fome too for mine.

I thank'd them, and told them, I wifliM I was
there.

They. laid. They wifli'd lb too, and then they
believ'd I could make fhift to get up to Town 5
though even then I fliould find it troublefome
enough.

I told them, I fhould not mind the Trouble, fb
it was but poffible ; But, faid I, how muft I con^
trive to get there.

' One faid, They would contrive, when the
Weatlier was fine, to carry me over the Bay.

&cvodier

rhndtber fadd, There was DoOocafioa for Tim^
Dtng that Rifqtifi, wben ^dne fiffi: fine Day, th^
poidd bdng dosm Aatonia iRn^mas Boat, ainA
cany. me and all my Cloatbs, and odxer Goods^
i:^ to this Riurno^ icom whence I migiit eaiiJy get
to Town, hccBsath the Govencior to be iinre would
fend a Horfe for me to ride up ;u9M9ik.

Another £ud, I «taeded not to &ar aliotie 9
for :both the <k)imriu3r9»d^rienr!bad'^
Men down to me^ to invite trie «o take v^ mj
Abode witii them, attfaoir Houies;

Ay, but, faid another, d5)caking low, as if I
wainot to hear htm, for mw Part, if I wasithe
'Captain, I ihould rather cnufe rto lodge witli
&^ore Antonia<iumms^ than xvith iMy one on- the
Ifland, be having always a good Stock of eveiy
Thing to eat, and more tplency than the tSo*
iremor.

Ay, but, &id another, thef^^ii^ Meat and
Fifti oftner ti^n Ant&nia GummSj ^or aivy Body
cMe on the Ifland.

It's true, iaid another; but if nrheCaptainUbres
with the Prieft, he will beg alibis Cioaths fpona
him, and you all know what a^ covetous Man lie
is; we cannot make any thing- of a hanckbine
Cotton Cloth Gap, or have any thing eHe that is
either. handfborie or delightful, but pfe&ntly he isi
begging it from lis. Another laid. That Stt^n-
gers were not reckon^ to be lb lubjed: to, or to
fet^ much Value and Elteem on the Padre* s Qi. e.
Pricfts) and e^ecially Englifi)^ as they did $ -hiaf
even, if they were informed right, the PorPu^efi
then^vcs: But that their Pricfts Power over
diem inuft be imputed to their Ignorance : And
indeed there was all the Realbn in the World it
Ihould be & ; becaule what littJe Knowledge they
had, they were obliged for it, they laid, to the
f pfft, as having no other Means to obtain it, as

' - ' \^

C i04 ]

iie had no other l\ilean$ to obtain his, but by that
Book which the Portuguefe inftrufted him in, and
left with him, when they confecrated him a Prieft,
and the Biihop blefled himi, with the full Frieftly
Power and Authority to forgive and abfblve Sins ;
But though Strangers had not that Power of for-
giving Sins among themielves, faying the Clergy,
yet they believed they flood in no need of any
Information or Knowledge from them, and there-
fore had no need of a Ptiefl: for Inflrudion, all
the Ufe or Benefit which they had of him, being
for Forgivenefs of their Sins.

I told them. We never received Forgivenefs
of our Sins from a Friefl, but always fought it of
<5od alone, through Jefus Chrift: They fald.
Except God or Chrifl perfbnally or fenfibly fpoke
to me, and let me know that he had pardoned
me, they did not ki^ow how I could be fatisfied
that ever I had Abfblution or Remiflion of my
Sins, and confequently, for want of that Know-
ledge of being certain whether I was forgiven or
not, I fhould never know of my being pardoned,
and mufl certainly be always fiiU of Fears and
Doubts, whether I was in a State to qualify me
for Heaven or Hell s but for their Parts, they
could not be unprepared of a Certainty of Quali-
fication to go to Heaven ; unlefs, by their own
N^Iigence, they did not repair to the Priefl for
Abfolution of all their Sins.

I told them. It was very well if they could
purchafe a RemiiHon of their Sins at fo eafy a
Rate, and in fo fatisfaftory a Manner ^ They faid.
Yea, that they could, and the Prieft dared not
deny abfblving any Man of his Sins, provided he
confeiled them to him ; and it would be their own
Fault, if they concealed their Sins, that they were
not all pardoned.

[ i05 1

But, condnued they, We do not doubt, but
when you come up to Town, that the Prieft and
you will have abundance of Difcouiie about thdfe
Matters, from whom you will have a better Ac*
count than we can give you, elpecially if you can
fpcBk Latin J as moft of you Strangers, ami more
eipecially you that are Pilots, can.

After diis O)nveriation, it beginning to grow
late, thoie that left us, wiihed us a good Nig^t^
promifing to return in the Morning, and bring me
fbme Filh tp eat, and fb departed : And we that
fiayed behind, palled our Time in Difcourfes on
my Condition and Circumftances ^ and having
made a good Fire of the Pieces of the Wreck
which they had brought on Shore, ibme of them
lay down about it, or where they could beft, to
take their Reft and Sleep.

Domingo Gummsj and his Brother Bajilj with
Franklin^ fat up with me by the Fire, and I took
this Opportunity to tell them. That I fhould be
glad to hear the Remainder of Signor Carolos^s
Relation of his Adventures ; and that, as I fup-
pofed they had all frequently heard the fame, and
that therdfore it would be no Novel^ to them, I
hoped they would not take it amifs, if I defired
him to continue his Narrative in my own Tongue ;
becaufe it would otherwife occaiion a deal of Cir-
cumlocution, as I did not underftand feveral Words
in their Language, and fhould be obliged to in-
terrupt him often, for an Explanation of thenu
• They reply'd. That they had, indeed, frequently
heard him relate his Adventures ; but that never-
thelefs, they were fb very extraordinary, that they
fhould never be tired in hearing them ; But how-
ever, fince it would contribute to my Satis&ftion,
they would take Pleafure in attending to his Talk,
though they fhould not be able to underfland
him : And hereupon, turning to Franklin^ they

a Kelation of yout Adventures^ or what elfe yo^
think fit y andy as. he defir^s^ in pur own Natvvd
Lan^a^e.

1 aid, Nb-y Ijbotdd make Jhift to uhderftand t'Bi
mofty or at ledfty a great Pott ofity and what I did
not underftandj rather than make an Interruption in
the Story y IwotM mdit another Opportunity ^ or ft ay
^tiltlhad a more perfift Idea and Underftandii^ in
the Country hanffta^e.

Mr. Franklin fairf, He believed he could exprefs
himfetf in fueh Words^ as hott they and the Cap^
tain could underfrand tolerably will.

They anfwered, Noj he would infinitely more
oblige them to relate it to the Captain in his own
luanguage 3 andtherefirre defired him to proceed^^ if I
fo pleajed.

I tolct them, A would not he good ItLmners for
ns to divert our/elves in a Language which they
imderftoed not^ and would he no lejs than an Affront
to offer 3 and efpecially as I knew that it was purely
out of KefpeSl to me^ though undeferved at their
Hands^ that^they were thus deprived of their natn-^
ral Reft J as well as of the Diverfion which they
might have at their own Homes ; and that it was
the leaft that I could do^ to endeavour all that in
me lay^ to be diverting to them^ although it were fo
haulk my own Satisfailion.

They feid, No^ they could divert themfelves very
well J and* be fides ^ they pould take more Delight fo
hear us talk in our own Language^ though they could
not underftand a Syllable of it^ for the Novelty of ity
hy far^ than it would be to hear it in their own;
md defired him to continue his Story.

Hereupon I defired Mr. Franklin^ if he pleafed^
before he proceeded, to fevotir me with an Accotmt
of the Natiire and Dilpofitions of the Inhabitants.
oS this Ifland, becaule at prefent it might be of

mora

[ 207 3

m6re Concern and l]& to me to know, in order
to r^ufate myfelf among diem, without giving
them any Caulc of Ofence, and ingratiate myfiff
in dieir Favour, by all Means poffible. As for
thefearthef Defcripticw ofthelfland, or the Pro-
dndions of it, I faid, we would refer that till ano-
ther Opportunity, or till I could fetisfy myfelf
ocularly, as not being of fo much Importance at
prefent, as the other would, becaufe die Igno-
rance of their Humours, Cuftoms, and Manners,
tnight occafion me to difbblige them.

He was very ready to comply with my De-
fire, and faid. That the People were afl&ble and
ftifendly, and very free of communicating any
tiling riiey pofiefled, one to another 3 but in aff
eipecial Maimer to a Stranger, as he could aflert,
by his own lon^ Experience ; That they were nor
inclinable to be fbon affronted- and were very
merry and chearful in their Way ^ and if I could
be p4es^^t and chcarfid among them, it would
inhance their Efteem for me, and they would take
much more Notice of me, than if I behaved my-
felf after a dull and melancholy Manner, or afc
.fecfted Solitarinefe. I faid. How can a Mzn in my
Conditim be merry ? Surely^ if they were to fee me
merry ^ or brisk^ they mufi needs think that I not
only loft little or nothings but that alfoy I was got
into a Country that exceeded mine by far ^ orelfe^ wat
I muft be a Fool^ and incapable of a true Senfe of
my Misfortunes,

He told me. It was their little Senfe of what g,
Misfortune was^ as having but very little more
thought or Confederation that JVay^ than the Beafts
of the Fields nor the leaft Notion^ unlefs in a wry
dark and eonfufed Manner^ of any thing beyond the
^Eoctenfion or Limits of their I/land ^ and for that
Reafony continued he, they han^e fo little Notion of
Msfortunes^ not b^n^ing any thing tbemfePves to lofe^

[ io8 3

that all of them reckon your greatefi Msfortune to
he the Lofs of your Cloatbsy and your prefent Corn
fmment bercj in not being yet able to get up to their
Svwn : For the refiy they look on it no otherways^
than as though one of them had fpent Jwo or S'bree
Days at fijhing^ and had loft their Hooks and Time^
and caught nothing 5 for as to that Part of the Mif--
fortune^ of being abfent from your native Country^
though to them it would be the greateft Hardjbip in
the Worlds yet they think it is nothing to us Stran-
gers j as they call usj becaufe we are' fo ufed to
it : Neither is it in mortal Power to convince them
of the contrary : For all which Reafons (though I
am very fenfible that you muft needs have a deep
Sorrow for your prefent Misfortunes) as well as
indeed for the Sake of your own Health j you muji
endeavour^ as much as you cany to pe chearful 3 for
I kmw^ by my own woful Experience ^ that nothing
impairs the Health more than a fettled Grief

I told him, Jt was very true, and I was not
myfelf tnfenfible ofit^ as having experimented it be-
fore this Time.

After wc had diicourfed a little upon this Head,
I defired him, if he pleafed, to finifh the Account
of liis Adventures, as well while he was in
Guinea^ as alfb what occurred till his Arrival on
this Ifland.

He faid he would, and hoped it would be a
a Means to divert me, and help p^ds the Night
away the better 5 and began, faying,

' I need not relate to you over again, what I
have already done, and therefore mall proceed
where I left off The Notion that I had, that
there was Gold within-Land, and that moft of
the Mountains abounded with it throughout all
that vaft Tra6t, more eQ)ecially between the
Latitudes of Twelve or Thirteen fi-om the
Northward and Southward, to the £quino(9kial

Line^

Line, and perhaps as far Southerly as that Latild
reaches, made me very Iblicitons to be fent up
the Country by King ubome ; and what ftrength-
en'd my Curiofity, was the Opportunity now
oflerM, which would not leave them the leaft
Room to fufpedt that it was defign'd upon the
Account of making any Remarks Or InQ)e(^ioh,
either into the Cbnftitutions, Polity, or Strength
of the Inhabitants, or of the Nature, Pro-
ductions, or Riches of the Country ; of both
which, as far as ever I could learn, the Natives,
efpecially thofe within Land, are very jealous,
and by that Means are unacquainted either with
Strangers, or their Manner of Trade ^ and by
the other Blacks bordering on the Sea-Coaft,
this Notion is kept up as much as poffible, per-
haps to deter them from venturing down to the
Sea-Coaft to vend their Commodities ; they
prepofleflihg them with the Fear of being car-
ry'd off by the Whites, and likewife of the great
Subtlety, as well as Power, which the jB^^^^ •
raus^ or Whites, are Mafters of 9 inlbmuch,
that the moft Part of thofe inland Nations do
fuppofe, that it's entirely owing to their Coun-
try being yet undifcover'd by us, that they
have hitherto remained fecure from being totally
lubje<5l:ed to us • and that whenever we come
to know the Riches and Value of the Coimtfy,
and its exceeding Populoulhefs, we ftiall imme-
diately feize upon the Country, and carry them
into Slavery in Foreign Countries at our Plea-
fure. They believe, that all the Whites think
their inland Countries are nothing but wild and
barren Delarts, frequented only with ravenous
and voracious Bealls, of which they have a
mighty Notion that we ftand very much in fear ^
;. and tell the inland Blacks, that this is the Rea-
fon the Bac^Ufou^s do not venture far u^ xSsa

%'

•.^r.r^z'.r, I XT Tie I:ut.i.' inn I;:^r^ :r zx, 3-jT^i

V-'.-; "A rr^^c* . z/jz r, -mirxi i zis£ zmsl^ r: re
rl'/TiC to ;r, to mi^jrt ;t fit for r3C:r r.ic^orc :
'l/i;it rh'y fcnd all their irjost vaiuabi* Thiisi
/rcifn flicir oH Wcirld thither; the Labour of
vfhii U 1.^ c arryM on by the Negro's which thej-
yi ;»tiy f arry from (tuinea : That they want
|M<HligifUM NiimlHTs of Slaves to work in that
tuw WnrM, which they believe the Whites
\\ ill i\\\ li'iuovr into a,s {iioix as it is got in order :
\\\M ihiv new \V<mUI is au inconceiveable De-
i\»»v Imu V ilun the old one ; but that it will be
M\ i\\\<\\\\yv^ 1 .cngth of Time before it can be
('.nvil <vM i!v /V'iiVfVifV to go into: That dur-
x\y^ a\\ \\\m K'U;) I'imc^ all ttiofc Blacks which
Aiv wMih t;«inc\1;uv«)Vi>(r thc CocA o{ Guhiea^
\y\\\\\ woik ;*nd iluc vcTV Iwtd, without any In-
«,M-.ivvu^M s^x Koicmption^ luitil the new World
:% *\v.r.pV;»«l\ (i(tc\l up in a very beautiful Man-
xwv. M\s\ I he }U.\\;rrnus arc all fettled there ;
Aw^l \\\A\ \\ hen ih;it i.< dvn\e, they will have no
Uitluv ScrNux* iW the Blacky and will then
u\\%\ ih<m home n> this World again, and never
m*MV *\Miic to iliis old World, which the Black?
\\:|1 be Ufi to inhabit, without e\^r beii^ mo-
Idled by the VV hites more. This happv Timf
' they earneftly wiih for, that they need not ftaui
^ in Fear of being made Slaves. They beliew.
' r/)at tiK B^csTAX^% troMble not their ijeads ar^

feithcf 5 than to cany them from Guinea to the
new World ^ and that then thw leave all the
Work of fitting it up to be done by the Negro's,
whom they deliver over for that Purpofe to the
Power of certain Fitteza^s^ (J. e. Demi- Gods) t
who have the Charge of managing, ordering,
and contriving to make it as pleafant and delight-
ftd as is poffible : That thde Ftttezds fet the
Negro's their Tasks, who are prodigioufly fum^*
futntned (i. e. beat) by them, if they do not
perform them well/

Franklin faid, ^ His being rcfident among them
fo long, gave him an Opportunity of being ac-
quainted with thefe Notions of the Inland Ne-
gro's, which might perhaps be new to me, as
well as to others, who had only touch'd on the
Sea-Coafts 3 for which Reafbn, he faid, he had
mentioned them to me, as a Novelty that might
divert me.' He then proceeded to tell me^
That he advis'd King ubome^ in order to pre-
vent any Jealoufy or Animolity between hicofelf
and Governor Plun'kefy to lend him away to the
King of his Acquaintance, and to imform the
Governor, that that King came to vifit him,
and finding a White who could fpeak fo much
of their Language as to be underilood, he had
prevailed upon him to permit him to go along
with him, promifing him his Favour, and Li-?-
berty to return whenever he pleased ^ and that
to confirm the fame, he QFpanklin) would write
a Letter to Governor Plunket^ to aflure him,
that in a little Time he would return, and wait
upon him.

' This Advice, he laid, pleased the King, who
orderM it to be given out, that he was gone
with King Bembolu to his Town, to abide with
him a Imall Time ; and that he wrote a Letter
to Governor Plunket^ and the reft of the En^Ujb

C i^* ]

Fafiory at Sierra Leotfj (having brought no lefi
than two Quire of Paper from the Pirates ;
which he would rather have wanted Cloaths than
been without) in which he declared. That hav-
ing been taken by Roberts the Pirate on the
American Seas, they not only deprived him of
his Veflel, but forceably detainM him as a Pri-
Ibner, and {o Ibridly watch'd him, that he ne-
ver had an Opportunity to make his Efcape till
he arrivM at Sierra Leon^ where he got a Deli-
verance from them : That if he had fled for
Refuge to them, they were too weak to defend
him n'om Roberts, who was fb formidable a
Pirate, that he could have deftroy'd their Set-
tlement for giving him ProteAion ; which made
it very happy for them, as well as himfelf, that
he had put himfelf into the Power of the Negro
Prince, inftead of that of the Fa6tory : That
he was now going up in the Country with King
Bcmbolu^ to refide with him a finall Time, and
hoped he fliould have an Opportunity to make
liich Difcoveries, as might be of Ufe to the
whole Faftory, and to the Trade of the Englijh
Nation in general ; and concluded, with wifb-
ing him and the Fadory Health and SuccejG, £^r.
' This Letter, continued he, I left with the
King ; who, after he had confulted his Nobles,
fent me to the afore^-nam'd King Bembolu^ at-
tended by four of his Guards, with his Staff of
State, which ferves as a Credential 3 and the
Blacks that accompany'd me, were to latisfy
him in all Things that were neceflary, and to
tell him, that 1 was a potent Baccarau Prince,
wlio was a great Friend to the Negro's, and had
come thither to fettle Trade, after a more ami-
cable Way than hitherto had been carry'd on
between the Baccarau s and Blacks^ &c. That
he was {Qven Days on his Journey to King

t ' Bew6o(«'s

Bemboliis Town, which, as riigh as he could
compute, was a Journey of about ninety or
a hundred Miles, to which he traveU'd on Foot,
flopping by the Way at feveral of their Towns,
where they were ufed very courteoufly by every
Body that they met : That for the firft fbiv
Days he obfcrv'd nothing of any G)nfequence 5
but after that, perceived Gold among them in a
very great abundance, but dared not make any
Enquiry about it, or feem to take much Notice,
as not very well underftanding the common
Speech, nor being able to place any Confidence
upon any one, in the fliort Time they 'flopped
any where as they went : That as fbon as he
had eaten or finoakM, unlefs he lay down to
llecp, they were for going ; but if ne lay half
the Day, and feign d himfelf afleep, they would
let him lie undifturb'd : That he underftood
afterwards, that thofe who attended him, had
Orders to give him no Opportunity to make
any Remarks or Obfervations of the Country,
and more efpecially to carry him the Defart'
Way as much as they could, and to fee that he
did not write at any Time, for though the
King had taken all his Paper from him, telling
him. He would have no Occafion to ufe it till
he came back, and that he would lay it up fafe
for him till he return'd, for fear, as he under-
ftood afterwards, that he ihonld take Notes of
the Country, ^c, yet they had an Opinion, that
he, as well as all the Whites, had a Fitteza^
(or GeniusJ who would bring him Paper, at
his Call, or any Thing he wanted : That there-
fore his Attendants were directed, if they faw
him have any Paper, and offer to write upon
it, to deliver him up inftantly to the King of
Aucadingo^ who, it feems, was an Enemy to
them, as well as to all IVbites. It was alfb

P 3 "" ^VN^ti

C *h]

given them as a Gmtiofi, diat if he was honed
and good, and had no Defign, they would per-
ceive it by his not writing ; but if otherwife,
be would call to his Fitteza^^ ytho would not
&il to aflift him with Paper, or what die he
fliould have oocaiion for : And that in this Cafe,
they Ihoold noc ofler any Violence to him them-
irhres, bat immediatdy deliver him up to the
afbrdakl Kii^ of j^adingDj on whom alone
dK Jrnrzjx m the Ba£caraus had no Power to
act or hart. At ki^th, condnuM he, we ar-
riv\i at King BcmAMs Town, or Court, call it ^
which TOO pleafe; and after the Blacks that
c:t:cadhed me, had fhewn the Staff of Credit,
and told thesr Errand, we were received with
abondanoe of RcQ>ed and Honour ; and there
was ga^n^ enough iqpon me, I being the firft
££r.*tirjs that ever was remember'd to have been
up at chat Town.

^ I was miglmly made much of, faid he, both
by King Be^dUy and his Nobles, who ftiew^d
me every Ttung they thought might contribute
ro my DiA"er6on. But having committed every
I'hixi^ thit poii'ci of Converfetion, and what I
oc tar\^d of Rarities, iSc. to Paper, I fhall not
nke up your Time with repeating them now y
rctming mjielf to what I have written, which

''"' f,^^ ^i •*' ^^'^ 2rxff, // it he fo difficult as you alt
rtpr^iut it to it\

He laid, ^l\iT J need not fear^ hut in a Day or
tVL\\ if ^ve IjJ any J'bing of fine Weather^ hut
thty "iccuki bring the Boat round here, and carry me
trp to Fuumo, ^'bere I Jhould have a tolerable good
Wki)\ Kchicb tbougb wry fteepj laid he, yet if s wry
j^Jiuit^y MtVi for Horfes y although J queftion^

whether any Horfe in England would he able to get
up from thence to Town^ and yet thafs the Fefi
Read reckoned in all the Ifiand. And indeed £>
it is.

IVell^ well^ faid I, Ijhant much mind whether I
have a Horfe or not^ fo I can but make fhift to
fcramble up any how s / only wijh^ laid I, / was
gone from this Place.

I ask'd him. Whether the Inhabitants knew how
to manage a Boat ? or^ IV ho it was that would order
the Boat down ?

He faidj fhat it, belong d to a Man calfd Anto
nio Riverio^ buf he believd that the Governor
would fee to get fome Hands to bring it down for
me^ as foon as it was fine Weather,

I told him, Jf he thought it would be any Thing
difficulty or troublefomCj that I would rather venture
to fwim crofs the Bay^ with the Maft or Boom^
guided by three or four of the Blacks^ than give
them too much Trouble , or tarry the Uncertainty of
their coming.

He faid. It was very poffible I might ^o over the
Bay very fafe^ in the Manner J propos d^ or even
without Maft^ Boom^ or any Thing elfe to help me^
more than the Blacks alone ^ though the Bay were
ten ^tmes as wide as it is : But^ continued he, you
need not at all doubt of the Boat being brought down ^
for you as foon as the Weather permits -^ for I will
go to Town myfelf to Morrow^ and will fpeak with
the Governor^ and likewife with Antonio Riverio
for the Boat ^ and if^ no Body elfe willy I am fure
Don\ingo Gumms, and his Brother ^ will come with
me '^ but I rather fear I fhall have more offer their
Service to go in her^ than fhe will be able to carry y
er I care to encumber myfelf with.

I ask'd him. How big the Boat was ? and. Hew
many it rjequired to bring her down. ?

P 4 ^^

He laid. It was hut a little Bauble of a ^hing ;
two Men could carry it 'very eafily^ wlgen it had Hen
fome time ' out of the Water and dry ; hut that he
had known fix^ feven^ or eight People in her at a
S'ime.

Ay^ faid I, hecaufe they did not matter half a
Farthings whether Jhe funk or fwam with them^
iecaufe they could always fave themfelves by fipim-
tningj if at any ^ime they were put to it.

He faid. It was true enough ; for they would
hardly venture in her farther off the Shore^ than
they were fure they could fave themfelves by fwim-
ptingy if Occdfion fo reauird: Nay^ laid he, and
I believe was it never fo good a Boat^ and never fo
fargCy it would be the fame.

What Sort of a Boat is fhe^ laid \} or did they
piake her themfdves? Why^ laid he, when you
fee her^ you will fay you never faw fuch a ^hing in
your Life ^ but fbe does well enough to go a fij^fing
with 5 and I have been with her myfelf^ and four
tnore^ as far as the little Iflands^ which you jaw as
you came along to this I/land.

Why J faid I, fure they would not pretend to fwim
from theltttle Iflands to this Ifland.

He finiled, and laid, If it were not for fear of
the voracious Fifh^ of which there is great Plenty
about tbefe Iflands^ they would not fear fwimming a
great Way farther ^ and Ipeaking to Domingo in
the Ifland Language, he told him what we were
talking of, and how I thought it impoffible for, a
Man to fwim from the little Iflands (Guys) to
the Ifland of St. John\ : At which Domingo
laugh'd, and laid, nat if it was not for fear of
the Fijh^ he could fwim to the Ifland of St. Philip.

I told him, / thought it impoffible for him^ or
finy Body elfe^ to fwim one Quarter fo far^ not--
withftanding I knew that all^ or mofi black People ^

fmank

C ^^7 ]

pis^cm "very well ^ (it being eight large Englijb
X-eagues).

He. iaid, / was "very much miftaken^ it being ^
poffikle. for a Man^ provided the Cramp did not tahf
bitn^ ia be in the Water fewrcil Days.

I told him, / thought half a Day^ or tefsj would
have been ^ime enough^ and more than enougby to
fpend the Jirongeft Man in the IVbrld.
He faid, / was much miftaken.
Mr. Franklin told Domingo, STbat I was fome^
thing fearful of going in the Boat to Fuurno ^ who
anf^/^'cr'd, ^hat if the Boat was to fill with Water
affoop as ever we turnd the Salt Point, he would
engage, with the Afjifiance of one more, whom he
could pick out, to carry me fafe up to the Fuurno.

I told him. It might befo^ but I would much ra->
tber be carry d round in the Boat, than put htm to
the trouble, or myfelf in the Danger.

He faid, As for the trouble, he Jhould think it
pone ; and as to Danger, I run none ^ yet be would
much rather that I went round in the Boat, becaufe,
that in the overfetting or filling of the Boat with
Water, I might chance to lofe fome of my things.

I laid, Ay^ and your Boat too. No, faid he,

we Jhould not lofe our Boat neither, except it was

very bad Weather, and a Lee Current , for, faid he,

7 am fure in fine Weather, I and three more could

bring that Boat fafe into the Fuurno, // Jhe was to

be filled with Water, and half Way over between here

and 5APhillp'j: He added, T'to Franklin knew

what be faid to be true , who was, he faid, tb£

knowingefi Man on the Jfland ^ nay, and did believe,

there were not many white Pilots s that htew fo

much of the Sea, or how to govern a Boat in the

Sea, as be did ; and therefore, if Singore Carolos

would go up with him to Morrow, be would go and

,0sk Antonio Riverio for bis Boat, and get as many

goQ^ Hands as Singore Carolos Jhottld t^ink [u^cir*

Mtj if J eould difpenfe wHb Singore'i Ah fence fo
long y or if noty be would go bimfelf^ and get the
Boat down J and fo bring us botb up together y with
sll my fbings.

I thank'd him, and told him. If Singore Caro-
Jos pleased to gin)e bimfelf the trouble to go, and
eonte witb bim^ Ifhould not only be n)ery willing^ hut
Jbould alfo take it as a *very ^eat Favour.

Mr. Franklin faid. He would go up with Den
fttit^o to bring down the Boat for the more Dit
patch. After which we fell into other Talk,
£>metimes about one Thing, and fbmetimes abput
another, till at laft Domingo^ with his Brother,
and all the reft of the Blacks fell afleep : After
which, upcHi my Dcfire, Mr. Franklin rc-aflum'd
his DUcourfe aoout his laft Adventures, and how
he came to be placed on this remote liland. But
as the Relation of them would too much break in
upon my own Hiftory, and indeed require a Vo-
lume of itfelf, I fhall at prefent pafs them by,
and return to what more immediately relates to
myfelf

After our long Difcourfe, I began to grow
fleepy, and laid me down on the Rock, by the
Fire Side, in order to take a Nap, and Franklin
did the fame, and {6 we fell faft afleep ^ Domingo
in the mean time awaking, took Care of the Fire,
and was {o kind, as to raife my Head fbftly, and,
without waking me, laid it in his Lap, which
might be one good Reafon of my not waking till
the Morning. "^

About eight or nine a-Clock in the Forenoon,
came down frcMn Town a Parcel of the Natives,
to the Number of twelve or foiuteen, two ot
whom were feit by the Governor, with a Side of
wild Goat, a couple of Pompions, a Water-Me-
lon, a little Calabaih of Milk, containing about
fi Quarty and with his Service, promilcd me, that

[ lip ]

he would fend me more on the Morrow, or next
Day, if I tarry'd fo long ; but hoped to have me
up to Town in a Day or two.

He underftood (they faid) what a difficult Place
I was got alhore at, it being impoffible, as he was
informed, for me to climb up the Rocks from
where 1 was ; befides, if it were, he would by no
Means have me, for fear I fhould tumble down
and lofe my Life, the Rocks being, as he was in-
formed, fo rotten, that I could not be certain or
fecure, either by Foot or ELand-hold ; and was
forry that I could not Iwim over the Bay, which
if 1 could, I might then travel up to Town, which
though it might feem to me a difficult Way, yet it
would then be without any Danger ; but he would
not have me be troubled at that, for he had bor-
rowed a Boat, which was the only one they had
on the Ifland fit to Iwim ; (for he had a Boat
himfelf, but flie had lain, it feems, two Years on
the dry Land, and was then in a Manner all to
Pieces, neither did they know how to repair her ^
though afterwards I put them in the Way • but
concerning this, he did not fend me any Account
now, but I underftood it afterwards) but he fent ^
me Word alio, that the Owner would let the Boat
come for me, on this Condition only, that Singore
Carolos himfelf fhould go in the Boat ; for elfe he
would not truft his Boat to the Management of
the Blacks, for fear of lofing his Boat. And
therefore (continued the Governor's Aian) Singore
Go'vernador would have you, to get Singore Carolos
to go up to Town to Night ; and if it fhould be
fine Weather to Morrow, you may be brought up
to the Fuumo.

I told him, \ thank'd his Mafler, and would
fpeak diredly to Simore Carolos about it, who was
ftanding by all the Time, and heard all our Dif^
jCforie ; and prevpntii^ my aslqng hlm^^ '&\d^ 1

C iio ]

need not give myfelf the Trouble, for he wa^
refolv'd, as he had given me his Word laft Night,
as did alio Singore Domingo Gumms^ to have gone
up to Town, in order to nave borrowed the Boat
of the Owner Antonio BJ'verio himfelf, and like-
wife to have got fbme more Blacks to afHft
tim and Singore Domingo^ to bring down the
Boat from where flie was for me , but was glad
the Governor had done it to his Hand, not io
much upon the Account of faving him the Trou-
ble, which, in refped: to whom it was for, (mean-
ing me) it would not be any , yet, as it was the
Governor's Aft, it would prevent any Heart-burn-
ing or Jealoufy. Why, feid I, what Jealoufy or
Heart-burning could it occafion to you, to endea-
vour to get me out of this melancholy, difconfb-
late, as well as dangerous Place, where a Man is
not fecure one Moment from being daflied to
Pieces, by the Rocks and Stones fb frequently
tumbling down ? and furely, continued I in Eng"
lijby th^ People mult be of a very dangerous, as
well as barbarous Principle, to be angry or dif^
pleas'd with any Perfbn, for endeavouring to refcue
one from the almoft hourly Danger of Death, as we
all are threatened with, by the fb often tumbling
down of the Stones from the Mountains. .

This moftly happened early in the Mornings, and
late in the Evenings, which gave me very good
Ground to believe the Reafbn which the Blacks
gave for it, as they faid by ocular i^emonftration,
which was, that it was the wild Goats going to
their Dens and Caves on the Edg^ of the Moun-
tain, whofe Foot was at the Top of the Rock
under which we were ; for tl^e Land rifes fome-
thing like thofe Draughts, which are drawn to re-
prefent the Pyramids of JEg^f>t^ the Foot of
one Mountain being, as it were,-^^^ the Top of ano-

^er, till you (iefcended to th? JSea 5 and thus thgr

tlffi

C 221 ]

rife one above another, till you arrive at the Mid-
dle of the I (land, which is the higheft • and
which, though at a Diftance off at S&l it appear^
with a rounding Head, yet when you are on the
Top of it, it then feems indifferent fiat, yet de-
clining till you come to the Edges, which then
goes down fteep, Ibmething like St. Paulas Cupu-
Jo,rifmg as it were out of the Body of the Church,
and at every Height of Pillars, and ends in a
roundifh flat Head, iuppofing the Crofs, &c. not
to be there.

Domingo Gumms being alfb prefent when Mr,
Franklin fpoke to me, and at all our Difcourf^
faid it was Time to be going to Townwards.

To whom Mr. Franklin faid. It was Time
enough after they had got their Dinner. Domingo
(aid. There was nothing here but only Pompion
and Water-Melon to eat, which they could get up
at Town, except the Milk which the Governor
had fent the Captain, which he thought would be
a pity to rob him off.

Mr. Franklin faid, He was fure that fbme of
thofe that went to the Pifcaree Picuana^ would
come and bring Ibme Fifli with them for my Din-
ner, and he would ftay and eat Ibme Fifli and
Pompion with me before he v/ent to Town. D^
mingo laid. He was afraid it would be too late to
ftay their coming, and after that the boiling of
the Fifli and Pompion.

To which Mr. Franklin laid. Then he would
not ftay the boiling of either ; but would cut
Ibme Pompion and roaft, and if they brought the
Fifli before it was enough, he would take a Fifli
and broil it to eat with the Pompion, and if they
did not, he would eat a Piece of^ Pompion, and
then walk with him to Town ; And, faid he to
J)omingOj What need you be in luch Hafte ? You
kaow if we were to go away from hence, to get

\fp to Porto de Cauwa by Day-IigHt, we can get
well enough up to Town by Night, and 'twill be
more plea&nt to walk then/ihan in the Day, when
the Sun ihines {o hot.

Domingo faid. As for their getting up, he did.
not fear that, and for his own Part, he could get
up better than moft of the Blacks on the Ifland^
and even in the Night, if Neccfflty required it 5
but he was urgent to get up to Town before
Night, to Ipeak with the Governor and Antonio
BJveriOj that he might procure fuch Hands, as
he thought proper, to launch the Boat in the
Morning betore Day, in order, if the fair Wea-
ther continued, to be back with me to the Fuumo^
before the Day Gale came on.

To which Mr. Franklin laid, That as for their
coming back to Fuurno on the Morrow, it would
be impoflible, before the Day-Breeze let in ; and
as they muft hale the Boat afliore where they
could find a Place out of the Danger of the Sea's
ftaving her at high Water, fo they muft wait all
Night to take me, and my Things, in the next
Morning at Day-break, otherways, they would
not be able to row up to Fuurno before the Day
Breeze let in, by reafon that the Rowl or Set of
the Sea, even in a Calm, was always to Leeward ;
and therefore, he would rather come down in the
Afternoon, when the Day-Breeze blew ftrong
down, becaufe the Wind would drive the Boat
fefter than they could row in a Cahn.

Domingo laid, He knew beft what could be
done 5 but that the Boat being but finall, if I
thought well of it, they that intended to go up
that Night, would every one carry Ibme of my
Things with them.

I thanked them very kindly 5 but laid, I had
nothing now left me, what with the Pirates, and

the

C "3 3

the Sea, that was worth their taking the Pains to
carry witii fo much Jeopardy.

Yes, faid he, you have ftill enough left you,
to be the rlcheft Man upon our Ifland.

At which I imiied, and fsiiy Then the Ifland
is very poor.

He laid. That he was fiire I had more Cloaths,
than any Two on the Ifland, not excepting the
Priefl: himfclf

I faid, I nev^ had lefs in all my Life.

He &id. That might be, and told m^ That
if I, and Sifigore Carolos^ thought wcU or it, he
would then alfb carry my little Boy with him up
to Town.

I told him, I did not think it proper nor £ife,
and would rather the Boy went up with me when
I went.

He told me. As for the Safenefs, he would en*
gage the Child fliould go as fafe as he did, and
would take it upon himfelf to carry him up, and
the Child fhould come t^o no Difauer, but what
he fliould participate o^ and Singore Carolos fhould
be the Judge.

I told him. If he could get the Child up thofc
Rocks, which they all along reprefented to me fb
difficult to afcend, and who, in a manner, was
helplefs, fiirely I might, with a little of their
Affiftance, make fliift to get up.

He told me. No, for the Rocks were fb fleep
and difficult, as well as rotten and dangerous,
that I fliould never be able to get up.

Why, faid ly then how can the Child get up ?
for I am fiire I can climb up much better than
he.

Why, fays he, I can carry him upon my Back,
and that I cannot do you.

»

But,

[ ^H ]

But, laid I^ I ihould think I could get up any
Place that you could carry, fuch a big Boy as
that*

He laid. No, and if I would not believe him,
he bid me ask Singore Carolos.

To which Mr. Franklin made Anfwer, faying.
It was true what Singore Domingo faid, for he
could with Eafe and Security, he was well affured,
climb up where neither himfelf, nor I, could,
nor would care to venture.

Truly, faid I, unlefs I was fufe of the Boys
going fafe, I would not let him go by any mean^.

He £aid, I need not fear, if Domingo took the
Charge upon him, for then he was fore he would
iboner fWfer a Difafter himlelf, than the Boy :
Why, laid I, I do not lee any Advantage in
lending the Boy up now, and, I think, he may
as well go round in the Boat, when I go round ;
for he could be but little Weight in the Boat.

Franklin laid. That was true enough ; but ftill
he thought, fmce they defired it, it would be
better to let the Boy go up now ; and perhaps,
my refufing might be taken as if I miftrufted
them.

I laid, I did not much fear but they would
do as well as they could ^ but was not willing the
poor Child (hould run any more Hazard, than I
did mylelf.

He faid, As to the Hazard, he was latisfied
there could be none , for if Domingo was not fore
of carrying him fafe up, he would never under-
take it i who, to his Knowledge, was {6 fore-footed,
that there was none on the Ifland could, or dared
venture to go where he could ; nor could a wild
Goat efcape from him, that he had a Mind to
catch j and it was his Opinion, That I had beft
^ lend the Boy up now.

C "5 3

Weil, faid I, in God's Name; t will venture^
fand if you find any Difficulty in getting the Boat
for me, I will then fay to get up myfelf;

He ^id, T heed not fear the Boat's coming foif
me the fifft Opportunity of fine Weather;

Said I, Dtm't you reckon this fine Weather that
We have now ?

Yes, faid he, and if it continues as it is now,
you need not at all doubt, with God's Leave, the
Boats being down fbme time To-morrow.

I faid, I wifti'd and hopM it would, and thought
it beft for them td go the iborier on the ^Account
of the Bey, that they might be paft the mofl:
dangerous Fart of the Way before it was dark.
• Mr. Franklin laid. They had Time enough *
hnt Dommxo laid^ It was better to go now, and
then they mould have Day-light all the Way ; as
Tikewife, that it would be ibmething tedious car-
rying the Boy at his Back.

By this Time, they beheld fome of the Blacks^
who wait from us the preceding Night, (accom-
|)any'd-, as it prov'd, by th«i three Men 1 had
broiight with ihe frdm St Nivholas) coming with
fome Fifti 5 whereupon Franklin laid, he would
broil and eat a Fifti before he went.

Domingo laid. He would not ftay U^bn the Boy '^
Accouiit ^ and prefi'd me to let him carry him up
then ; fo I yielded : And Mr. Franklin told Do^ ,
fningo^ That as they did not gd one Way, he be-
ing forc'd td Iwim' Aver the Bisiy t>efore he could
ialcend the Rocks^ and Domingo going with the
Boy right up, he might be going on, ahd as loon
as he had eateii his Fifti j he would folWw him j
and confidering that he had the Boy to carry, hfc
believ'd he (hould overtake hiih, and Which eveir
of them firfi: arriv'd at the firft Curraal de Vaiica^
%Q Itdy there till the dthet came.

<2L *^^

[ ii<5 ]

To this Domingo confented ; and taking a G>t-
ten Safli, he bound the Boy with it o^ his Back^
and four more Men accotnpan/d hinu and took
ibme of my old Rags, and fbme of tne painted
IJneing of my Cabbin, which was fitved as afore
related, and away they went ^ and after Mr. Frank"
litt had broilM and eaten one Fifh, he alfb depart-
ed, with two or three Blacks who chqfe to go^ his
Way, promifmg his utmoft Diligence to bring the
Boat, or let me fee him, if any Accident hap-
pen d to hinder his coming with it. The Pricft's
and Governor's Men went alfo away to Town. * ,

I then tum'd myfelf to the three Men I had
brought with me from St Nicholas ; and the firft
Salutation I had firom them, was a Weeping and
Howling after the Negro Manner, to teftify their
Sorrow for my Misfortune, as alfo their RefpoS:
to me I and made abundance of Frotefhtions on
that Head ; for it feems the Inhabitants had very
much blamed them for their leaving, and not
afUfting me.

I told diem. It was very well; and it being
neither a feafonable Time or Place to upbraid
them, I made as though they were not much
blameable.

One of them, whofe Name was Manuel^ told
me. That fince it pleafed God that I had cibap'd
widi my Life, notwithftanding their Bafenefi in fb
leaving me, and not affifting me, which he was
heartily alham'd of, and flioulA never forgive him-
lelf for ; and having given over, all Hopes of ever
feeing his Native Land, Wife, or Children, he
therefore would dedicate his remaining Days to
my Service ^ and that it was with that Intent he
was comedown, and was refolv'd not to go up till
I went, and defir'd that I would take him no other-
ways than as my Servant, or Slave.

1 I thanked

C i»7 ]

1 tfaatikM him, and told hiitt, Th^t I only de«
fir^d to be efteem'd as a Friend by thern^ Md* hf
ali the Natives of the Ifland. • '

To which all prefent anfwerM^ That I lieeid *oe
doubt the Erieridflilp of the whole Ifland r&iid
they believ'd me to be fb good and hbneft a i5'/)^.
gotc^ that I could not fail of being belov*d by all
People where-ever I came ; and Manuel dcfir'd me
not to ufe any Compliment to him, but to take
him as he had freely offered himfelf to me, and
was reldlv^d to be no otherwife than my Slave as
long as he liv*d.

I thank'd him, but told him^ I was in ilo G>n-^
dition of providing for myielf, much lefs to have
Servants to provide for. He told me. He did
not offer him&lf with that View, but rather that
he ihould work and provide for the ; aiid that it
was his full Refblution^ not to leave the while he
liv'd : For all which I thank'd him 5 aiid fo fell
itito other Diicourfe, needleis here to relate^ till
our Fiih and Pompion were boil'd, which was to-
wards Sun-fet, whereof I made a hearty Meal^
every one forcing upon me three or ^ur times
the Quantity of what each of thcihlelves had,
and being ferv'd on a broken Piece of Calabafli,
or, for want of that, on a clean flat Stone ga-
thered off the Beach ^ and they were fb reip^-
ftil, that not one of them would prefuxhe to eat
with me, except Nicbolau Verd^ who once took
that Liberty, ror which he was roundly check'd
by all that were then prefent ; and though I often
importunM them to let me eat with them, or
fomc of the ancienteft of them, yet th^ never
would accept of it 5 but modeflly reply*d. That
black Men were made to ferve white Meii, and
tliat: it was honour enough to wait on the Whites,
without being their Companions, or Equals.

[ "8 ]

I muft confefi, it put me even to the Blufh to
£be fuch Humility, as well as Hofpitality, amongft
thoie imiocent and ignorant poor Creatures, when
I confider'd how vaftly they exceed us in thofe
Virtues, who pretend to {b much Learmng and
Knowledge *: And in particular, their Veneration
for Age is extremely laudable and worthy of Imi-
tation : they paying a great Rj^ard to thdr El-
ders of all Ranks.

After eating, we pafi'd our Time away as well
as out Circumftances would permit, being parti-^
cularly edify 'd by the Charity, Morality, and
Kindnels of thofe Perfen^ whom, tho' we count
Savages or Barbarians, &r exceed the Generality
of us Chriftians^ to our Shame be it ^ken, th'o*
we pret^d, and really have fb many greater Ad-
vantages over them/ :

I was very uneafy about the Boy, and longed
to hear of his being fafe got up^ the Rocks ^ and
die Momii^ proving fine Weather, as did alfb the
Night pafi, gave us all Reaibn to expeft the Boat
down ; but in vain.

About Noon it began to blow freih, and fbme
of the Blacks fwam over to the Salt Point to look
out for the Boat, and took their fiihing Gecr with
them, and came back in the Bvening with a good
Mefs of Fifh.

I do believe, that I did not more long, or wifh*
for the Boat, than thefe kind-hearted Creatures^
did, but it was all in vain ; and what made us^
the more impatient, no body came down from
Town to tell us the Reafbn.

About duskifh two of the Blacks went up to
know the Occafion of it 3 and we pafi'd the Night
as wpU as we could.

Next Day, about Noon, came down two Men
from Town, who told us. That Singore Antonh
Kiverio had lent the Boat^ and that Singore Carohs

had

C lip 3

had fent Bpmingo Gumms^ with Hands enough
down, and promised himfelf to follow than :
That Domingo went down accordingly, and lay
all Night at the Boat, and not feeing Singore Ca^
rolos come, he launched the Boat into the Water,
and waited till the Sun was up ; but no Singore
Carolos coming, he lent a Man up to Town to
know the Reaibn of it, who, upon Enquiry,
found, that Singore Carolos went from Town about
the firft Cock-crow, and that they thoi^ht he had
been down at the Boat, or a good rart of his
Journey towards where I was, before then 5 But,
continu'd they, we have as bad News as all that
to tell youj which is. That one of the two Men
that left you laft Night, can't be heard of : He
that w«it with him fays. That when they went
in the Water, one faia to the other, Ij^p us fee
which of us can fwim crofs the Bay fwiileft 5 and
that having out-fwam his Confbrt a pretty Way,
all of a fudden he could not hear him ; and that
he tum'd, and cajl'd him feveral times, but re-
ceiving no Anfwer at all, ne made the befl of his
Way in a Fright to the other Side of the Bay,
and fb got aftiore, and travelled in the Night up to
Town ; and fays, That he does not know, whe-
ther it was the Cramp took him, or whether it was
a Fifli devoured him j but however, it fb terrify'd
them, that never after any of them would ven-
ture to fwim over that Bay.

I exprefs'd my Concern hereat ; and ask*d him.
Whether he had heard any Thing of the little
Boy ? He faid,^ Yes, he was got fate up, and the
Governor would fain have had him lived with him,
but Singore Antonio Gumms would not let him, but
kept him with himfelf, fayirig, he had npipft Right
to do fb ; for that his Son Domingo had brought
hi^fi up with great Hazard and Difficulty^ and
\^6ped the Captain would not otAy \^% Vtoi cc>tcC\-

C *3o]

fiue with him, but aUb would himielf take up h!|
Abode with him ; and had orderM DomingOy and
all his Sons, as they tendered his future Favour^
not to negled their utmofl Diligence to get the
sprain up, as ibon as poflible.

I was very glad to hear the Boy was &fe, and
^eartijy wifh'd myfelf with him.

I heard nothing farther till the next Day in
tbe Afternoon, when Domingo came down, and
confirmed to me what the Man had told me the
pay before j and that Singcre Carolos had ordered
hini and the Men down, and promised to follow
them that Night: That thereupon he launch'd
the Boat in the Morning to be the more ready,
and when to his Surprize he came not, he fent a
Man up to Town to know the Reafon, who
brought him Word, that he had fet out from the
Xpwn about Cock-crow, and they thought he had
been with us 5 and, continued he, we waited till
lilmoft Night, and then haled the Boat up on the
Land again, and {b went up to Town, where we
had an Account, that Singore Carolos was taken fo
bad on the Way, as he was coming down to us,
that he was like to die ^ and that it was by meer
Chance he was found, and was brought up to
Town on an Ais, being fo weak, that two Men
were forced to lupport him : He added. That the
Townfinen were juft going, if he had not come
up, to fend them Word to hale the Boat up, if
he had launch'd her, and come to Town again,
for that Antonio Riverio would not truft the Boa
without Singore Carolos ; after which, laid he, m
Father would have mc. come down to acquaij

}rou, and defires that you would reft contented
ittle, till it pleafe God Singore Carolos is bett
which if he i^ not in a little Time, we will xns
Ibifi, by ibme how pr other, to get you fir
h^nctj ^c. And \vitha\, Ca^s Vvt^ toy ^sither g'

r^j' ]

his Service to you, and bid me tell you, that
your little Boy is £ife with him, and hopes he
fliall have the- Honour of entertaining you borfi,
when you come up ^ and although he is not Go-
vernor now, yet he might have continued fb as
long as he pleas'd, and does not doubt, but he
ihafi be able to entetxain you as well as any one
upon the Ifland, Sc ^

I returned him Thanks for his unmerited Fa-
vours J but was not a little troubled at my Difap-
pointment of the Boat, and the more, by Reaibn
of their Averfion and fear to fwim over the Bay,
occafion'd by the late Difafter; by which my
Hopes that Way were cut off: However, I pafi^d
the following Night as well as I Could^ neither
wanting Company, hor enough to eat ot the beft
the Ifland afforded.

Next Morning I told Domingo^ I had a grfea*
Mind to try to get up the Rocks. He diflwaded
me all he could, urging the ImpofHtnliiy, as weU
as I>anger. I told him, I was fure' I could get
up any where, where he was* able to get up with
fuch a great Boy, as my Boy was that he cariy'd
up. He laid, I cduld not, I told him, l( they
would afEfl me, I would try, and perhaps I might
do better than they imagined ; and if I found
that I could not, which I fhould never be cdn-
vinc'd of tin I try'd, then, faid I, I muft defift,
and be contented as well as I can, till it pleafe
God Ibme other Me^s offer.

homingo faid. He was afraid I fhould get fb'
high, that it might be very hazardous to get tm
dpwn again ; and was pofitive I could not get'
quite up, nor any one upon the Ifland with £1^
on. I told him, I would very readily ^uffwy
Shoes ofi^ after I had gone a^'&r as TcoUld' ^ith
■tHenit ■''•' " . ■ ' •"• *■ • ■•■

C ^^ 3

Some of the Blanks preient &id[ to Doming)^
Jjtt us go and afHft him ; you fee how deiirous no
Is, and perhaps his £ageme(s may enable him to
do better than we think for.

Domingo (aid, That I myfelf could not be more
t^efirous lo get £ife up, than he wa$ ; but he |cnew
tiie Impoffibility of it ; but howeyer, iaid he, tp
pleaie the Captain, and to let him fee that no £n-
fdfs^vour ihall be wanting, let i|s go fix or eight of
us, and try what we can do.

So away we went, and Domingo led the Way*
|t wa$ |ow Water^ and we walk'd on the Beach,
along by the Foot of the Rock, about three or
four large Stones-cafl:, till we found one of the
\x&i. Flace$ to mQunt at, tho' God knows bad
fnough- Domingo fent a young Fellow up firft to
try whether the Way was paflable 5 who fbon
inQunted up out of Sight, and was gone a little
above a Quarter of an Hour, and then returned
f^ain, ana faid, he had been a good Way up,
jihd that Place was better to go up at, than any
pther they haifl yet found out. Domingo bid me
(bty a little, and he would go up a little Way to
view it, that I ^ght not be fore d to come back,
perhaps after I had got up fbme Part pf the Way ^
for, faid he, we are often fbrc'4 to do fb ourfelves.
]He accordingly went a little Way, and camei
dp^ivn to me again, and fai4, it w^ mpch the bet-
tet Way of ^y he Jiad fecn yet. The Rock was
pretty fteep, but not right Perpendicular, about
^ jHLeight of St. Pa^fs Cupola, or higher ; after
which, it feem'd to overhang as:^i^ as the lower
Hoped. in; but they told me, Thj^t; after I got up,
th^^, there^was ^ good Path in ^xme Places ^ ^
1^.^ got, and. I found the Hold that we had
vati» Q«r Feet wai^To little, that I was forced to
pull off my Shoes, and they frpporting me bek>w,i
ti^t my jPeet Ihoul^ not flip^ and them diat was

C ^;3 3

got above mc, when they attained to any Piacp
jthat they could fecure themfehres, (which Acy
could very well do, when they got a Place to fix
cheir Feet upon two or three Inches broad) thjen
they wQiild tieach down their long Stafis for me to
take hold of, and hale me up, thodfe below fhoveing
me up wkh their Hands ^ and when I was out of
iheir Reach that Way, then they would Ihovc mc
up with their long Staves, till I had attain'd ibme
yiace to hold and fecure myfelf widi my Feet
and Hands, . while they fhifted higher, and fix'd
themielves to afHft my afeending another Degree.

When I was about half Way up the firft Rod^
I began to fweat with Fear : I looked down but
pnce after I had got any Thing high ; but I be-
lieve, had . I not been jlupportol, I ihould have
tumbled down : My very Sight dazled ^ nor is it
poffible for any one to conceive how it is, except
thoie who have been in the like Cafes, nor they
nether ^ve the Idea & lively or ftriking after^
wards.

At laft we got up to the firft Refiing-Flace,
whi|ch, as I told you before, was as high or higher
than St. Paulas Cupola at London^ from the Bot--
tom of the Rock, and we had then a flat pretty
even Path, which lookM like a Gallery , only want*
ing Rails: We walked along that Path, which
H^as abQut three Foot broad, for about half a
quarter of a Mile, or more, fbmetimes defcend-
ing, but moftly afcending ; and in fbme Places fb •
narrow and dangerqiis, uiat they were obligM to
pafs fbme of thaoi firft, and thai reath the End
of theip Staves to me, while thofe behifid bounded
fne to with dieir Staves till I got over.

When we had wander^'d to the End of that
Vein, as I may call it, the Rode was in a Manner
Perpendicular, and we could hardly find a Place
^hefeon to fix ones Toe, or To^s of otve& tvsw

[ »34 1

gcrs, which put a Stop to my Journey : They
ftarch'd all about to find a Way paflable for me,
tmt all in vain, and had like to have prov'd i&tal
to fbme of them; for as they learchM, and
ciimb'd, a great Piece of a rotten crumbly Rock
tumbled down 9 and two of them, of wluch Da-*
mingo was one, had the narroweft Efcape that ever
I knew or heard of; which was thus. One of them
was got up a pretty Heighth above the other
two, on a Finacle or Piece of a Rock that ibood
without the reft ; and one of them thruftiiig aiid
{hiking at it with his Stafi^ to fee whedier it wds
hollow, or would bear him, as is their ufual
IteAice, there tumbled down a huge Piece of
Rock that was right over thofe two, who, like
two Rats, were clinging to the Rocks with their
Feet and Hands : But as Providence would have
it, it roul'd offwards, without doing them much
Damage, lave the Fright, and a few Scratches,
fKxafion'd^ as I &ppofe, by fbme of the fmall
Stones that droptdown after the great Piece of
the Rock was &llen ; but it rais'd fuch a Duft,
that the Air, for as far as we could difcern, was
all, as it were, in a thick Smoak, and it made
fiich a terrible Noife, that I thought all the Rodcs
over us were coming down upon us ^ and I verily
believe, it was halt a quarter of an Hour before
the tumbling Pieces of the Rocks reached die
Bottom, for fb long or longer I heafd the Sound
,of them billing ; for we were then got a prodigi-
ous Height up, and, by our tinming and winding,
quite out of Sight of the Sea, it b^ing along tro
Edge of the Mountain, where the Gathering of
the Waters is from the Inland in the Rains, and
lb pafles down to the Sea, making deep Gullies
where the Rock is foft, and where not, defcends
ip great Fajls,

<

KSxKt

[ »35 ]

After ail vim quiet, and tlie 0uft laid, wQ
Icnew not what to do, neither ieeing nor htearw
ing any of the Three that were gone be&fre ua ttf
dllcover the Way ; at laft, one of them dbat was
with me, after recovering of bis Fright, iaid.
That he believed Domingo Gums^ and the other
Two djat were with him^ were killed ^ and that
it was their being on that Rock, that made it
tumble down : When prefently, we heard a
Whooping and Hollowing, which we anfwered^
and as £)on as they had again defcended down
that Precipice, which they had fb dai^erouil^
ikove to afcend, they came to \xsy who all this
Time fat ftill, fqueezing ourielves as clo£b to the
Rock as we could, fer tear any more ihould tum-
ble down. When Domingo came to us, he was
very much rejoic'd to fee us all well, thinking
that we had been clofier after them, and that we
had bcMcn lall'd by the Rocks that tumbled down ;
and &d. He thought it was one of the greateft
Dangers that ever he was in ; And, fays the Man
that was a-top, that tumbled the Rock down, I
thought that Domingo^ and all of you were kill'd ;
and the Noife of it was fb great, that the very
Rock trembled whereon I ftcx)d, and I expeded
every Minute it woiild tumble down, and me
with it ; but, iaid he to me, if you was a little
higher than where you are, you might get ii^
more eafily than what you have already pais'd $
but that it was impoflible, as he thought, for ma
to get to the Place wh^e he ftood when the
Rocks fell ^ neither would he himfelf venture tn
^o there again. :>!:

Domingo faid, He would rather than any d&ig
that I wasdown again ; and that I muft not pro^
tend to ftrive to go any higher.

I told him. Except they could find a better
Way than jhis we were nqw in, 1 m\^ ^ ^^

He d<yvra here and die, as attempt it. Neither,
continuM I, have I any Hopes of getting this
^ ay ; but fiire, (aid I, that was a better Way
that you went, when you carry'd the Boy at your
Back, than this that we came now.

He laid. He thought that Way was rather
worfe as to climbing, only that the Rocks were
fi>mething ftronger and nrmer than thefe^ But,
iaid he, don't be caft down nor diicourag'd at
this ; the worft Jobb we have now, is to fi;et you
down again, the which, when accomplifh d, you
need not doubt your getting up to Town, whether
Smgore Carolos he well or no : And, continued he,
I wifli Singore Carohs had tarry'd down with you,
and I had gone without him for the Boat, which,
had it been fb, you would have been at Town
before now. As for getting you to Town, added
he, I am not a bit concerned ; for I do not fear
having the Liberty of the Boat firom Antonio
BJ^verio myfelf, if Singore Carolos fliould not be
able to go in her ; but if not, I will take her whe*
dier he will or not

Then faid I, they will blame me if any Misfor-
tune fliould happen to the Boat. He faid. No,
he would take all that upon himfel^ and knew
faimfelf able ib to do^ and give any Man upon
die Ifland a Knock on the Fate that fhould offi^
to check or flop him, excepting Singore Antonio
his Father, and Singwe Padre the ftieft j But,
laid he, we muft now make it our prefent Endea-
vour to get vou down again to die Sea, and then
leave the reft all to me ^ after which, you your-
SfH Ihall be judge, whether our Family, or the
CrovemoF, or Prieft, or any on our Ifland, de-
ierves moft to have the Credit and Honour of en-
tertaining you at their Houfe 5 and hope you will
do the Honour to thofe who are moft carefiU of

" ur Widftre,

C n^ 1 ,

I tbld him, I was very ienfible I could ndtkef
honour nor credit any Body, by giving them dicf
Trouble to maintain me, but ihould radier take it
as an Honour, as well as Charity, done to myfel^
diat smy one on the Ifland would contribute & £ar
only, as to prevent the Boy's and my ftarving,
until it pleas d God of his Mercy to put into our
Hands an Opportunity of getting into our own*
Country again.

He told me. He would have me not ttf doub^
that all the Ifland, as well as the Inhabitants, was
at my Service.

I told him, I had no Reafbn at all to doubt o£^
their Goodnedfs ancl Hofpitality towards me, hav
ing received Proofs enough already, and a very re-
markable one but now, by their but late narrow and
miraculous eicaping the loling of their Lives5 in
endeavouring to ierve me ; and hoped the Fright
of that would not deter them from afibrding me
their further Afliftance, without which I could
expecSt nothing lefi than inevitably to perifh here,
among thefe hideous, frightful, and diiCnal Rocks.

Domingo told me. That all the Difficulty that I
Ihould encounter with more, would be in getting
down again to where I came from, and after that
he would have me be eafy, and leave the reft to
him.

God knows, faid I, how it will be ; but, come.
Life, come Death, I muft fubmit to it j and have
this Satisfaction, that. if I do perifh, I perifh
among thofe whole Defires and Endeavours have
not, and, I believe, will not be wanting to cxtri*
cate me, as far as they are able. At which the
kind-hearted Domingo^ with a Voice of Cc»icem,
and Tears in his Eyes, reply'd, O Singore CapiteeHy
1 have begun to aflift you, and will lofe my Life,
or get you up fife to Town.

« Every one prdent exprefi'd tbeibielves m the
£tme Manner, tho' not in lb tender to Accent, as
Donumfr^ and ib we iet out to return the &mt
Way mat we Went ; and when we were arriv'd at
die £nd of our unrail'd Gallery, and ibine o£
them were about defcending the Rock, where we
had iirft afbended, Dotntngo caird to them to ftop^
and {aid. He would not truft the Captain to go
down now, that the Rocks were more crumbly ^
^ indeed I afterwards foimd by Experience they
were, oocafion'd, I iiippbie, by the Scorohing of
the Sun, wliich, as it were, calcined them, and
inade them more apt to crumble and break]
whereas in the Night, they ieem'd to attrad: fi*Qm
the Air a Kind of Gluten^ which cemented and
cender'd them more ftrong and firm : Whether I
have properly accounted iat their being ftronger
in the Night than in the Day, I cannot tell ^ but
lliat they are £>, is confirmed by Experience : For
which Reaibn Domhfgo would by no Means lee me
attempt to go down till Morning, when the Sunt
was but jt^ rilen, enough to dry up the Dew
from the Surperficies of the Rocks : And fo we
pitched on the broadeft and moil: convenient Place
for us to make our Abode in till the next Morn-
ing ; and then Domif^a, and two more, went
down j and brought a Stick of Fire, and fbmc of
the Wreck Wood, with ibme Fompion and Fifti ^
and there we took up our Lodging that Night :
And in the Morning, with much Difficulty, as
well as Hazard, we got down, and came ta the
old Place again.

Soon aroer, Domingo^ having refted and te*
freflied himfelf with a little Fifli and Pompion,
took his Leave of me, and, with Ibme of the
Blacks, went up to Town to get the Boat down
for me, and bid me expeft him, if the Weather
was good, the Evening following, or the Day

C *39 ]

after J but yet if it .fliodd happen, fb that he
tarried longer, ^not to be out or Hopes, or im-
pute it in the leaft to his Negleft ; for he aflured
me, ^ Eifde^our or Diligence of his fliould be
wanting : This, he laid, he could boldly aVer for
bis own Part, and believed, ths^t no one on tho
Ifland, but would contribute, their Affiftance to
it, to the iimo& of their Power. -; :

I thanked him, and them all, and. told him^^
I had no IR^^n in the leaft t<^ doubt .what he
(aid, and bid him give mv humble 'Ser^ce to Ibm
Singore ?^ ( i. e. his Father) to th% Sinff^e\BA^
dre^ and \Singpre Gavemardo^ and to all the Sin^
goresyin general, not forgetting Sikgpre^CarolQs f
He Ikid, he would j fo away they went. = •

Manue}^ , whom I told you ci before^ had let
his Rdpludion, never mdre-to part .w^ me, un«i
leis I lt>r<night him to his Home and Family, nor
then ^dtber^ unlefs I would: 'fhe Time -that I
was goni^ he had got all mv Rags and Cloaths,
and had wafhed them ; as aUb every Rag of the
Sails that . was as broad as my Hand, and had
them ipread to dry ; and as they dried, he folded
them up, and laid them in a Hole in the Rod^
where neither the Sea, Duft, nor Dew, could
come to annoy them; and told me. That he
was not in any great Hopes that I fhoiild have
been aUe to have got up i but was in great Fear
that any Diiafter Ihould h^en to me, by reaibn
the Rocks were fo difiicult to climb up, as well
as dangerous, which he had fiiunned, by liis^im-
ming; yet he heard fb much from thoie that
pafl^ diat Way, that he had little Hopes that I
could ; but wilhed heartily, that I misht, and
Imd waflied, and was a drying all my Things, in
ordo: to bring them up after me, asibon as he
heard that I was iafe up.

i thanked Mm ; He faid^ I owed iiim no
thanks ^ that it was biit his bare Duty, and as
fbch, he did it, Sc

It was almoft cahn, and as the Sun drew to the
Meridian^ it fell qtiite calhi^ cdntrai^ td virhat It
is on th^ Weather Side, as well South-Baft, afid
North-Weft Sides of the Ifland, where the nigher
die Sun approaches the Meridian, the frefller the
Gait blows J but oii the Sduth-Weft Sicie, the
cistitrary j though ibmetim^s^ el^ially if it be
calm in the Offing, even a mint Trade^ betweeii
die Hours of lo M. and 3 P. M. you ihall have
a fine Sea Breeze at South- Weft; and fbch a
Breeze would have been very refrefhing to me
now.

The Sun, as I &id^ t^as Extreme hot, darting
his Rays againft the folid Rocks, which reflected
upon us an inconceivable tleat, lb that by its
flronger Light or Fire, it not only dimmM,but had
like to have quite extinguifhed the weak Lam^
ofmyLifet

Vot it lb inflamed my BlOod, that, with other
Caufes concurring, filch as the Badnefs of Food
for fbme Tinie paft, arid driiikiiig nd Liquoft*^ btfc
that fiery Spirit, Rum ; my great Fatigues, Colds^
Heats, iSc, and now my feeding altogether, and
of a ftidden, on watry Food, £uch as Pompion^
Water-Melon, Bananas, £^c. and inftead of RuiA^
drinking cold Rock Water ^ with my labouring
and Frights ftriving to fcramble up the Rocks ^
the former letting, as it were, my Blood all on
Fire, the other chilling, and, as it were, ftag-*
nating it ; of both which, I had a lenfible Percep-
tion.

All theft together, I lay, threw me into fuch
an iUneli, that it was the Wonder of every One^
and the great Mercy of the Aknighty^ that 1 re-*
tovered from it.

C Mt 3

I found myfelf very much out of Order, but
was afraid either to conceit mylelf fb, or own it
to any-bbdy clfe: They all 4w an Alteration^
and asked ine. Whether I found myfelf ill or no ^
I told them, I was indifferent, but thought it
was the Heat of the Sun that made me a little
faintifh • they (aid. They believed 1 was not a
little, but a great deal ill ; for, fays Manuel^ your
Face is as red, as the very Fire, and I will let
ybu fee it yourfelf, and away he goes, and fetches
me fbme clear Sea Water in a Calabafli, and
held it for me to behold my Face in, which I
could almoft as well fee, as in an ordinary Look*- "^
ing-Glafs, and I was really furprized to fee myfelf;
it was jufl as if I had got a Surfeit, or like one
when the Small-Pox *firft comes out; and upon
examining, I found, that all my Bod^ was the
fime.

My Head was ready to fplit, and I thought
my Eyes would have ftartca out, and at laft I
was forc'd to bind fbmething about my Head;
and I could hear them talk one to another, that I
had an exceeding high arid fbong Fever • fome al-
ready concluding I fhould die, others hoping not,
' all wifliing that I was up at Town ; and Manuel
crying, and curfing his Confbrts, laying all the
blame on them, by whofe bafe Negled, he faid,
came my Misfortunes, and the Grief which occa*
fion'd my prefent lUnefs, ^c.

My Dillemper increased fo, that I was not able
to fit up, but was forced to lie along on the Rock
on Pieces of Sails, i3c. with which they made a
Bed for me as well as they could ; and in the
Evening, feeing me fo bad, they all left me but
three, of which Manuel was one ; who would
have had the other two have gone up alfo, telling
them they could do me no good now, and rh^lt
he alone was fufficient to look uftcr lae^ at^i o\vVj

[ Hi]

wanted them to come down, one or two, every
Day, to bring down Necefl&ries, and daily give
an Account at Town how I was ; but they all
iaid, No, they would always leave two with him,
as well for Company, as to aflift him, or to fend
away to Town upon any extraordinary Occafion ^
fb away they went.

I was very ill the whole Night, and a great
Part of it was delirious, and fo continued the Day
following ; in the Evening, Domingo ^ and ibme
more, came down, and was very fbrrowful to fee
me in fuch a Condition ; moft of the Afternoon
* I was pretty fenfible, and perceived feveral of. the
Blacks weep, and elpecially Manuel and Domingo^
who often wifhed, that I had not fallen lick be*
fore I got to Town, when they Ihould have been
better able to take care of me, and keep me from
the Cold.

Domingo told me. That Singore Carolos was ftili
ill, but much better than I, and was mighty
* forry when the Men that came up laft Night,
brought Word of my Illnefs ; but did not believe
that I had been fb bad, as he, to his great Grief^
found that I was ; and that Singore Carolos^ he
hoped, would, in a little Time, be better , and
as fbon as ever he was able, would be down ta
look after me ^ and that the Governor and Prieft,
as likewife all the People in general, fent Word
to me by him, That they were all ready to ferve
me, and that I (hould not want for any thing
that the Ifland afforded ; but more e^ecially his
Father Singore Anthonia Gums^ who would have
come down before now, but that he is a heavy
old Man ; and fb would the Governor, but that
(as I had heard before) he was fick, and flill was
ia a weak Condition ^ and. the Pricft being a fkt,
heavy, corpulent Man, he could not climb up

or

or down the Rocks, as he believed, £b well
as I.

About the Time that the Goats go to their Dens, *
there came down a great many Stones and much
Duft where we all wete, without doing any con-
fiderable Hurt to any of us, though there hap-
penM feveral Stones to fall pretty high mCj and
a good deal of £arth and Duft upon me ; one
large Stone fell, I believe, within half a Yard o^
my Head, which frighted them more than me, fbi?
my Sicknefs was lb extreme, that I was but very
little affed:ed with any Apt)rehenfion of Danger i
but Domingo and Manuel could not be eaiy till
they mov'd me to a Place, which tho' to them
feem'd lefs dangerous, yet it w^ much more in-
convenient, there hardly being Room for me to
extend myielf, and the leaft Turn would have
rowled me of ^ which, althot^h the Fall would
hot have been very great, as not* being above
four or five Foot above the Beech, yet it being
all ftony, it was not only poffible, but alio very
probable, that I imight be hurt ^ and at high
Water, there was about a Foot and a half, ot
two Foot Water, eipecially at Spring Tides, and'
moderate Weather, the Sea did but little mote
than come up to the Rock 5 but my good Atten**
darits took , Care enough of me, two of them
keeping by me all Night, and if I offered but to
turn, they would be ready, and ask me if I
had a mind to turn, which if' I laid I had, they
would turn me with as much Tendemels, Sis a
Mother could do her tender Babe ; and fo th^
tended me by turns till they thought the Goatd
were all got out from their Dens, and that the Dan-
ger of the Stones tumbling down was over ; and then
they removed me where I had Ibmething more
Room, and alio contrived a Soft of an A.\xw\iR%clt
Shade (or m§ Bom the Sun ^ ^xia V(VvvcVv^ D(^

[ H4 ]

I

*w«go. giving Manuel Charge to tend me well, (2^
alfo to remove me before the Sun got below the
Tops of the Mountains, and place me where I
had been laft Night, for fear of the Goats tum-
bling the Stones down on me, and in the Morn-
ing to move me again) he went away to Town ^
at whofe Arrival, and News, they were very
ferry ; and Mr. ISranklin told them. That I Ihould
be much better, ' if I lay better ^ and Domingo
having a Cotton: Hammock, which hi« Father
had of the Pirates when they were at this Ifland,
he ask'd Mr. Frinklin whether that would be of
any Service to me, who told him it would, and
bid him carry it down, arid fhew'd him how to
hang it.

• Domingo came down ag^in that Night, and his
Brother Bafil^ with fbme other of the Blacks,
and brought with them fbme Milk, Pompion, ^e.
and the Hammock, which had been fix'd ready for
hanging up, at Town, by Mr. Franklin ^ and they
found Means to hang it up at the Side of the
Rock by fome Nobs that ftuck out, and juft high
enough, that the Sea could not flow up to me ;
dio' when it blew hard, that the Sea rowl'd in,
and beat in againft the Rocks, the Spray would
oftentimes fall into my Hammock, and make me
as wet as if I had been dipped in the Sea.

They catch'd two (^ails, which they had
knock a down* in the Way as they came along,
and fome others brought down a couple of Fowls ^
neither wanted I any thing all the Time I was
there, nor after that 1 could be got upon the
Ifland i and Manuel conftantly tended me Night
and Day with a Tendernefi that is not common ;
befides it was very feldom, but what there was
fome of the Inhabitants down with him.

I was pretty much delirious, infomuch, that
ibmctimes^ as they have ftocfc xo\di mt^ >3weN[ were

C H5 1

to ftand in the Water, when it was full Sea, to
keep me in my Hammock, their Tendernefi not
penpitting them to tye me down ; neither would
they, during the whole Time of my Illnefi, tell
me any Thing I did, or what I laid in my rav-
ing Fits, becaiie, as they afterwards told me, they
would not difcourage me.

I had a tolerable Bed to lie on, made up of
Pieces of 5ails doubled, and laid in the Ham-
mock, and my Bed-tick fmooth over that ; but
they had taken all the Feathers out and flung
them away, becaufe they were wet y on that was
Ipread a Cotton Cloth, and another Cotton Cloth
was laid over me, and on that my Rug, which
they had alfo laved ; ib that cdhfidering where I
v^as, I may lay I was extraordinarily accommo- -
^ated. - ^ -

A high burning continual Fever held me neaf
about a Month ; after which I was lels delirious,
but extreme weak, not being able fo much as to
turn myfelf ; and in the Spring Tides I ufed to
be often wet with the Spray of the Sea dafhing
againft the Rock where I hung, and then in die
Morning they would take me out of my Ham-
mock, and Ipread the Things and dry them ; and
during the Time that I was out of the Hammock,
one or another ufed to lay my Head in their Laps,
or Ibmetimes let me on their Laps leaning againft
their Breaft, or any Way which I found moft
eafy ; and I believe I was troublefomc enough to
them.

I fliall trouble the Readers with one Inftance of
the Strength of my Delirium : One Night, when
the Water was down, lb that the Beach was dry,
I had a Notion came into my Head that I could
very ealily go up the Rocks, and thought, in my
Imagination, that I had leen a Way never dilco-
ver'd by the Natives, which 1 thou§Jcvt \ coxjJA.

K 3 ^^^

ycry cafiiy get up ; - and looking about me, de-
figning to get away without any Body's difcover-
ing mc, I pleased myfelf to think how I fhould
furprize all the Town to fee me there, who would^
be apt to think I had fbme fiipematural Help. I
thought I was fb ftrong, that I was able aJmoft
%o do any Thing 5 and every one being fitting
about the Fire on the Top ox the Rock, which I
^ould fee as I lay in the Hanunock, I got oiit
without making any Noife, and was going along
as eafy as I could, that I might not be difeover'd,
when Manuel ipying me, came running to me,
and ask'd me. Where I was going ? I told him, I
was going to Town. He faid. He wifti'd with all
his Heart I was able. I told him, I was able
enoufih. He laid. No ; and begged me to go
with him back to the Hammock. No, I told him,
i would go to Town. He laid. That when I
was well, I could not get up ; and how could I pre*
tend to it now I was ill > I tpld him, I was as well
as ever I was in my Life, and as ftrong, (and in-
4eed fo I thought I was) and was refolvM to be
up at Town before Day-light. He defir'd me to
go to my Hammock, and ftay till Day-light, and
then I fhould fee to walk better. I told him, I
had lain io long in the Hammock, that I was
tired of it. Then laid he, Come and fit down by
the Fire with us till Day, and we will all go toge^
ther. For, laid he, you know that not one of
the Iflanders will venture to go up the Rocks in
the Night. Pifli, faid I, I know a Way that ne'er
a one on the Ifland knows. Pray, lays he, let
me perfuade you either to go to your Hammock,
or come and fit down by the Fire with us. I laid,
No ; I was ftrong and well enpi^gh, and perfeAly
|fen,ew every Step of the Way. How can that b^
feid he, and you never was up that, nor any other
y^3)ipn this Iflan^, in yoqr Life ? No Matter fiy

that,

that, laid I, I have been fhcwn the Way, and
have ieen, that if I was to go it a thoufand
Times, or ofbier, I could not know it better than
I now do 5 and therefore am refoVd to go now,
while I have the Knowledge of it fo frefh in my
Mind, left God Almighty, who has fhew'd it me,
may perhaps take away my Knowledge To-mor-
row ^ And, faid I, it fignifies nothing your talk*
ing, I will go to Town now, while I can, and
v/ill not any longer tarry here. Well, laid he,
if yon are relblv'd to go, I will go with you,
and I will put a Gotten Cloth about you, that
you may not catch cold (for I was all this Time
ftanding ftark naked). Well do, laid I, and
bring a Stick for me, to have in my Hand to
keep off the Dogs when we come into Town, for
I reckon we fhaJI be there a good while before
Day. Ay, laid he, and it will help you to walk.
No, laid I5 the Way that I fhall lead you, you
may walk it very eafily without a Stick ; but I
would not have you (hew it to any body, that
they may admire how we got up, and the more
for coming up in the Night.

He laid. He would not ; and brought a Cot-
ten Cloth out of the Hammock, and borrow'd a
Stick of one of the Blacks who was fitting at the
Fire, telling them where I was going, and what I
laid. Some of them laid, I was light-headed;
others. That God was a great Friend to white
People, and out of Compaffion to me, had per-
haps lent his Angel to Ihew me, in a Vifion, the
Way. Ay, laid another, but there is no luch
eafy Way from hence up , nay, nor any where on
the Ifland from the Sea-fide, as what he talks of
Well, but, piid another, God can do all Things ;
may be he hath lent his Angel to make the Way
{o ealy for him 3 and a great deal more fuch

R 4 innoceat

innocent foolifli Talk, which I heard of after-
wards.

Idanuel loon returned, and brought me a Stick
as I had defirM him, and a Cloth, which he ty'd
about me after the Negro Faftiion, and away we
trudg'd ; I being, I thought, as ftrong and hear-
ty as ever I was in my Life : But we had not
walkM above a Stones-caft or two, beft)re my
Delirium began to leave me, and with that all
iny imaginary Strength, fb that I was unable to
help myfelf ; and Manuel had enough to do to fet
me on my Legs again, and began to perfuade me
tp go back with him to the Fire, or to lie down
in the Hammock again ^ but I woold not hear
any Thing that Way, but bid him go his way
to his Conlbrts, for that I could find the Way to
Town without any body's Affiftance, and Ihoved
him from me ; who letting me go, I dropp'd
down thro* extreme Weaknels.

Hereupon he calFd to his Conlbrts at the Fire,
who prefently came, and among them carry'd
me to the Hammock, where I lay quiet enough.

I believe this was the laft ftrong raving Fit J
had, being for the moft Part fenfible after that ;
and then I had been laid up better than a Month,
and was very weak.

I lay three Days and Nights, they told me,
without opening either my Eyes or Mouth, only
when they forc'd it open with a Knife, &?^. tQ
pour Broth or Milk down my Throat, and never
(tirr'd ^ fb that they very often thought I had
been dead, till they felt my Heart beat, which
^ey would every now and then.

When I awaked from this Lethargy, I was Juft^
I thought, as though I had rifen out of a iweet
gjeep, w\ thinking, nor they telling n»e then, i;
ba4 ^^ 9 N^p of ttjreB Pa^?,

It

C ^49 ]

It was a little before that, that Mr. Franklin^
being fomething recoverM, came down to fee me ;
but was gone before I awaked out of that long
Sleep, and ftridly ienjoin d them, before he
went, to be fure to take Care of me, white any
Life remained in me ; but as foon as ever they
perceiv'd me dead, to fend diredly to him, ami
he would, if able, come down. He was of Opi-
nion, That I Ihould never recover; but wUh*d
that he had feen and fpoke to me before I was fo
bad, that he might have known where to write to
my Friends, that they might have the SatisfaAi-
on to know when, where, and how I died ; he
iaid he could not ftay with me, not being well re-
cover'd, and found it prejudicial to him . to lie
open, exposed to the Dew, and therefore went up
again.

Domingo alfo came down often, and moft of
the Time th^t I was ill, every Night almoft,
there were two, or three, or more Companions with
Manuel,

I continu d ftill very weak, but ienfible, and
fweat fo every Night, that in the Morning you
might have wrung all the Cloaths about me, and
yet remain'd lb cold and clammy, that I could not
be warm all Night, do what they could to cover
me : The Blacks faid. This extreme Sweating was
a good Sign, and that my Diftemper was going
away in thofe, Sweats.

When I had lain about fix Weeks in that Con-
dition, it pleased God it held calm for two or three
Days together, and Carolos and Domingo^ with
three others, brought the Boat down ; but about
an Hour, as near as I could guefs, before the
Boat came, a terrible Accident happened, which
gives me ftill the greateft Concern ^ for a great
Piece of Rock tumbled down, right over where
jnv jSoinpaQck hyngj and it being low Water,

[ ijo 1

tfid a fine Day, poor Manuel was fitting on die
Beach, a little Way off from me, on whom feve-
fal of the sreat Stones fell, aiul made a woful
Spedacle of him, by finafhing him as it were al-
moft to a Mummy ; my Hammock hanging clofe
to the Side of the Rode, the Piece of Rock, and
Stones, which came tumbling after it, rowl'd oflf^
clear of my Hammock, excepting fbme few, which
ibratched and rafed the Skin in ieveral Places,
and gave me a flight Contuiion in my left Arm, a
little Cut on my left Thigh, and bruised the out-
fide of my left Ankle, which was the worft, and
painM me above two Months after.

It happened luckily that there was not any Bo-
dy dfc there at that Time ; for there had been
Iwir widi Manuel the preceding Night , but they
iceii^ die Day before had been calm, and that the
Morning promised the feme for the enfuing Day,
two of them went up to Town at Bre^ of Day,
to remind my Friends to get down the Boat, and
the other two went a fifliing.

When die Boat came to the Beach, poor Ma--
nuel was the firft Spe&acle they iaw ^ and looking
&rther about, they law me lying down on the
Beach with my Hammock afinoft covered with
Duft, and in fb weak a Condition, that I was not
able to move, and almofl: unable to {peak.

The firft that came to me, ask'd me, when he
law my Eyes open, for till then, he laid, he
thought I had been dead, in a very fliarp Tone,
How came Manuel to be kill'd lb ?

I anlwerM, as well as I was able. That I could
not tell ; and by that Time Mr. Franklin and the
reft came up to me ; and when lie faw that I was
alive, and Ipoke, he laid. He was very glad ; and
ask'd me. How long Manuel had been dead } I
told him, I did not biow of his Death ; but I be-
liev'd it was about an Hour fioce I heard the Rocks

fiJU

C »5<]

&11, which beat down my Hammock, and I be*
liev'd had hurt me a little.

/)6;;/i;/^ofaid,'What fignifies asking him Ou^
itions ? Let us get him down to the Boat bdbre
any more £ills, and thank God he has ib narrowly
cfcapM ; fb away they took me four of them, and
carry'd me down to the Boat, and put what they
thought worth carrying away, into it ^ and away
we went, and got up to Tuurno about two Hours
before Sun-fet, where they brought me afhore,
and laid me tn a little Cave, upon a Bed which '
they made me of dry'd Grafi which they gathef'd,
and covered me with the Rug and Cloaths' they
brought up in the Boat ; and kindled a Fire at
the Mouth of the Cave.

They told me. That they did not, when they
tame away, defign to have come back to Fuurito
till the next Morning 5 nor, they bcliev'd, had not,
if it had not been for that unlucky Difafter of the
Rocks falling and killing Manuel^ and hurting me^
and therefore expected no Horfes down for me
till Morning ; at which Time Dotningo (aid, his
Brother would be down with a Horfe from his
Father, and hoped I would do their Father die
Honour to lodge with him.

I can't tell whether it was with the Joy of my
Deliverance from that difinal Place, or how ; but
I found myfelf more hearty, and could ip^ fo
as to be intelligible without ftraining, or making
fne fo faint as it ufed to do for fome Time paft.

I told Domingo^ That it could be no Honour ;
and that I fhould give abundance of Trouble to
whofecver entertain d me ; and I thought I oVd
more Obligations to him than to any one on die
Ifland, and therefore, fince he was fo good at
to defire it, I would give him ihsx Trouble and
ipharge*

[ M^ ]

He told me. The Governor, he believ'd, would
fend a Horfe for me alio ; but defir'd that I would
ride up on his Father's Horfe, fince I had pro-
mise him to take up my abode with him.

Mr. Franklin told Domingo^ That fince I had
given my Word to lodge with his Father, he need
lay no more about it, tor that it was the Property
ot the Englijh Nation, Iboner to die than to go
from it.

Domitfgp faid. He believ'd it ; and went away
diredly to carry up the joyful News, as he call'd
it, of my fate Arrival at the Fuurno. Next
Morning betimes he return'd, with feveral of the
Slacks, and his Brother, who brought a Horle for
me : The Governor alfb fent a Man and Horfe
lor me.

My Fever had in a Manner left me ; but I was
lb weak, that when I was fet on my Feet, I could
not fland .a Moment without being fiipported ;
and Mr. Franklin faid, That the Governor's Horfe
was the quietefl, as well as fecurcfl to carry me,
and the Saddle was the deepefl, and eafieft tor me
to fit upon, and fb proposM that I fhould ride up
on that, which Domingo^ with fbme Reludtancy,
for fear the Governor fnould take it as an Obliga-
tion for me to live with him, comply'd with, upon
my repeated Promife that I would take up my
Abode at his Father's ; and after they had well
girted and fecur'd the Saddle, they fet me on the
Governor's Horfe , and, for the greater Security,
tied my Feet under the Horfe's Belly with a Cot-
ten Sam, much as they do a Criminal ^ the Pimi-
mel of the Saddle afore being as high almoft as
the Pitt of my Stomach, and it was as high be^^
hind 5 and they feften'd me fb, that if I had been
dead, or afleep, I could not falj : They then put
the Horfe in the Path, and tum'd him loofe, and
bid me not fear, for he knew his Way home ;

and

C V55 ]

^d away went the Horfe afore a good Pace," but
did not trot , and never ftay'd till he came to the
Governor's Hut Door, who, with feveral of his
Relations, and a good many others, was ready to
receive him.

I was up ibme time before the Blacks ; and the
Governor welcomed me with all the Signs of Joy
imaginable, and excusM himfelf for not coming
down to me at the Salt Point Bay^ by Reaibn c£
his lUnefs, ^c. but now I was come up, he would
endeavour to make Amends to me for that, C?r.
and told me. His Houle, himfelf, his Family, his
Friends, and all that the liland afibrded, was at
my Service, and he himfelf would be to me in
the Room of my Manuel whom I had loft, and
which he was very forry for, fince he heard, he
fa id, he was an afledbionate and faithful Servant ;
and ordered to unloofe me, and take me down off
the Horfe.

I told him, I was extremely oblig'd to him, and
all the Singores on the Ifland ; and, if he pleas'd
to hear me without being angry, I would give
him my Reafons, why I could not poffibly take
up my Abode with him, without incurring the
Difpleafiire of Singore Padre to both himfelf and
me, and what the Confequence of that might be,
I believ'd him to be a better Judge than m)^elf ;
which was, that Singore Padre was the firft that
ofler'd me his Houfe, as he was the fecond : Now,
continued I, if I fliould lodge at the Padres
Houfe, I fuppofe you would have taken it ill of
me, and I am informed, that if I lodge at your
Houfe, he will do both you and me all the Preju-
dice that lies in his Power.

Ay, faid he, I know that he loves me but from
the Teeth outwards ; I have been upon my Guard
a great while ; I know he is fpiteful and malici-
ous enough^ but I do not value Vum xW \v€^ ^

[ ^54 ]

Padre ^ but it may be, that out oi Malice hfe
may, fome Way or other, privately do you a
Prejudice, but openly he Ihall not ; and tho' (ot
your Reaibns given, I could agree to your living
with any dhe elfe on the Ifland, yet I never Ihafl
agree to your lodging at the Padre's, I know,
^d he, his Eagemeis to have you live with him,
is not out of Refped to Strangers, but for what
fee can get from you.

Nay, laid I, he can exjped nothing from mc,
1 having been robb'd oi every Thing before I
came here.

YeSj yes, laid he, you have Cloaths^ and he
will be glad to get Ibme of them.

Well, lays I, if you will be contented for me
to live at another Houle, I will give you my
Word I will not live at the Prieft*s.

He laid. So it were with one that he thought
would take Care of me, he would.

I reply'd. That to avoid giving any Offence,
or, at leaft, as little as I could, to any Party, I
thought it beft to go to Singore Antonio Gumms.

He laid, I did very prudently, as we Whites
always did 3 and he liked Singore Antonio very
well, he being a good Man, and having a better
Houle by far to entertain me In, than his j but
hoped, when I was able to walk abroad, that I
would not be a Stranger to his Houle.

I told him, I fhould not : At which he leem*d
latisfy*d.

By this Time the People who followed me came
up 3 and tho' the Governor was Iway'd {o with
the Reafons that I gave him, ib as to be latisfy'd
with my going to live at Singore Antonio Gumms^
yet Ibme of his Friends prelent were not ^ and
began to lay one to another, that this was owing
to Singore Carolos^ and to Domingo Gumms, and
that Singore Carolos ought to be dvaftiz*d for his

C M5 3

Ijifblence ; who being but a Stranger, fhould take
that Liberty to perlwade the Captain not to live
with the Singore Governador.

Domingo over-hearing them, iaid. It was &Ue^
to fay that Singore Carolos had any Hand in per-
iwading Singore Capiteen to live at his Father's ; it
was he himfelf that did it ^ and his Father was ai
well able to accommodate Singore Capiteen^ as Sin^
gore Go'vernador was , and his Father was Gover*
7iador when Singore Luonell GonfaPvo (that was the
prefent Governor's Name) was but a Boy, and
might, if he pleased, have been Governor now,
but that he was old, and would not take the
Trouble upon him ^ and that Man that (hould fay
that Singore Carolos had a Hand in perfwading
the Captteen^ he had a Faukade ready for him ;
and immediately drew out a long iharp-pointed
Knife.

Mr. Franklin told them. That he did not per-
fwade me either to one Houfe, or another j but
that I had promisM, at the repeated Requeft of
Domingo^ to go to his Father's, left I (hould dif^
oblige either the Governor or the Padre.

Notwithftanding this Excufe, one of them up
with his Stick to ftrike at Mr. Franklin ^ but Do-
mingo gave him fuch a Rap on the Head with his
SricK, that he lay'd him down as quiet as if he had
been in his laft Sleep, for fbme Minutes ^ which .
put theiji all into fuch a Ferment, that the Gover-
nor, fearing it might be of no good Confequence
to me, got me into his Houfe ; leaving Orders to
apprehend and make a Prifbner of him, who firfl
lifted his Stick to ftrike Mr. Frankhn^ as being
the firft Breaker of the Peace • And this, indeed,
was the moft prudent Way he could have a&ed,
to prevent a Commotion among them y and this
intirely put a Stop to their forming Parties, which
they were going to do.

C M<5 ]

After I was brought into the Houfe, the Go-»
yemor fliew'd me the Bed which he had made up
for me, in hopes that I would ^ave remained with
him i but he was, as he told me before, fatisfied
(to prevent giving Offence) at my livii^ with
Singore Antonio^ whom all the Ifland re^efted y
. but fince I was alighted, he would have me ftay
at his Houfe till the Cool of the Evening, ani
then he would lend me down to Singore Antonio^s ;
to I was lay'd on the Bed, which indeed was ex-
traordinary, confidering the People and Country j
for there were four Pofts drove into the Floor, in
the Form of a long Square, and four Pieces of
Wood tied to them with Banana Cords, which
ferm'd the Head, Feet, and Sides of the Bed,
and three or four Sticks laid acrcrfs, and tied at
each End to the two Pieces that made the Sides of
the Bed ^ over that was lay'd a Hurdle made of
large Cane Reed, being the fame Sort which Is
brought out of Portugal^ &c. over the Cane
Hurdle was good Store of dryM Banana Leaves,
laid after the fame Manner as the poorer Sort of
the Native Irijh do their Beds of Straw^ over the
Banana Leaves was laid a Banana Mat, and on
that two white Gotten Cloths as Sheets, with a
thick blue-and- white Cotten Cloth over all, as a
Rifg or Quilt.

I have been the more particular in defcribing
this Bed, becaufe Beds are not ufual* there, they
all lying on the Ground, and, as he told me, it
was of his Brother's Contrivance, who had liv'd
fbme Time at St. Philip's^ and had been once at
St. Jago^ where he faw thofe Sort of Beds there,
ufed by the Branca s (i. e. PortuguefeJ inhabiting
there ; and faid. He was fiire there was ne'er ano-
ther Bed upon the Ifland of jthat Sort, except one
that his Brother made for Singore Padre ; and he
would keep it always ready for me^ againfl: I was

C 257 ]

recovered, in hopes I would pafs a Night now
and then with him ; which I Gad I would, fo it
gave no Offence. He faid. He would beg that
Favour of Singore Antonio^ who he was fure would
not deny him.

The Prifoner who had begun the Fray, was
bound Hand and Foot, and put in the Governor*^'
Houfc, and fb remained till next Day ; and upon
all Parties becoming Friends again, he was fet
free.

I had a Fowl boilM for me, and I fupp*d a
little of the Broth j and in the Cool of the Even-
ing I was carry 'd down in my Hammock, by the
Inhabitants on their Shoulders, it being fix'd on a
Pole by Mr. Franklin. I was joyfully receivM
by Singore Antonio^ who told me. Since I had
been io kind to come to live with him, notwith-
ftanding I had been io importun d by the Prieft
and Governor, he reckoned himfelf and all his
Family fo highly obligated to me, that all that
they could do for me was much too little. And,
indeed, he made it appear that what he faid
was fincere ; for during the whole Time that I
continued ill and weak, which was about fix Weeks
more, the good old Man would truft neither his
Wife, who was alio a good tender and motherly
old Woman, nor any of his Children, nor even
Domingo^ either to make up my Bed, which was
done every Night, or to lift me out while it was
made, or to ferve me with my Victuals - but did
all himfelf ; often telling me, that it was the
greateft Honour he ever had in his Life, to be my
Servitor.

Aly Bed was of the fame Fafhion of that which
I defcrib'd before at the Governor's ; for the old
Man, as fbon as \it had any AiTurance of my
coming to his Houfe, went to the Prieft's, to fee
how his Bed was made, and by that Pattern fix*d

S ^\^s^

L M8 ]

cmc for mc, after the Branca s Fafliion, as they
caird it.

Durii^ the Time of my lUnefs, every Day
fome or other of the Inhabitants would come to
fee how I did ; but never hardly any of them
came without bringing Ibmething for me, either a
^ fowl, fome Banana's, Indian Corn, and Banana
Cakes, Pompion, Water-Melons, Sc according
ds they had ^ but Singore Antonio very feldom let
them come into the Houfe, excepting fome few of
the better Sort, for fear of difturbing me, but
received their Offering at the Door, and there
anfwer'd them how I did, and returned them
Thanks for their Prefents on my Behalf

1 he Prieft pad me a Vifit the next Day after
I came up ; and the Governor ufed to come and
'•fee me almoft every Day ^ and every two or
three Days font me, fometimes a Quarter, fbme-
times a Side, and fometimes a whole Carcals of a
wild Goat.

After I began to gather Strength, that I could
drefs myfelf and fit up, they ufed to be admitted
in J for then Singore Antonio thought, he laid,
that Company might divert me, and do me
good.

W'hcn I came to be able to eat pretty well, and
could take a Walk out in the Air, which was
about two Months after I came up to Town, I
told Singore Antonio^ that I began to be pretty
well, I thank'd God, and all the good People of
the Ifland, and in a particular Manner himfelf,
and Domingo^ who, under God, was a great In-
ftrument ot faving my Life ^ and that now my
Stomach was pretty ftrong, I would endeavour to
eat as they did, avz. Pompion, Fefhoon, parch'd
Indian Com, ^c, and that I reckon'd I liad de^
ftroy'd his Stock of Fowls already (which was
the largeft Stock that any four on the Ifland had

b^Cides

C M9 3

befides himlelP), He iald, I had not deftroy*d his

Stock, for they were not his Fowls that I eat, but

my own. I told him, It was his Goodnefi to

make them fo. He £aid, No ^ they were my dwn

properly, and were given to me by the Smzores^

who came daily to fee me in the Time ox my

, Sicknels : And, fays he. How many Fowls do

you think you have yet left alive ? I told him, I

could not tell 5 neittier did I know that I had

a^y. Why, feid he, you have more Fowls, 1 be*

Jieve, than \ ; and calling his Singora Muritia^

C which was his Wife's Name) he ask*d her. How

many Fowls the Captain had left alive ? who told

him fifty-one, or fifty-two. I was in amaze at

/ it, and feid, I was indebted to all the Smgores of

' the Ifland more than ever I fliould be able to

pay.

Hefinikd, andfaid. That to help any one that
was in Need, but moi*e efpecially a Stranger, was
a Duty incumbent on every one ^ and that if any
of them Ihould ever happen to be in the like
Circumftances in my Country, it would be then
a Duty in me to do the fame fof them ^ and he
did not doubt but I fhould have been of that Opi-
nion, if I had never been on this Ifland, and rc-
ceivM Kindnels from them.

After I was able to walk Abroad, I had every
Day Invitations, till I had vifited all the Inhabi-
tants Houfes or Huts on the Ifland, except the
Fitefeers (L e. Witches) Houfes ^ againft which,
txij Landlord, as alfb the Governor, and the
Prieft, gave me a Caution, neither to eat, noi" .
drink, nor have any Intimacy or Acquaintance
with them, but as little as I could.

ThefirftVifit I paid (for which I askM the
Governor's Leave, and praying him not to be
offended at it^ which he readily granted, and pro-
mised not in the leaft) was to the Prieft, who took

it very kind, that I had done him the firft Favour
at my firft going Abroad , the next was to the
Governor ; and after him to Singore George Goip-
falvo^ who had formerly been a Governor ; and
then to the reft in order, according to their Seni-
ority, as my Landlord Antonio Gumms direfted
me, whofe Advice in that Affair I wholly fol-
lowed.

I now began to be pretty ftrong and hearty,
and nfed to go out with the Natives a hunting and
filhing ; the laft I ufed often to b« at, as being
more diverting and leis fetiguing.

I had Nails enow lav'd out of the Pieces of
the Wreck, to have fupply'd the Ifland perhaps
an Age, or more, with Filhing-Hooks ; for all
that the Natives had fav'd and knocked out with
Stones, they brought to me, after I was come up
to Singore Antonio Gumms ; for the Prieft had told
them, That if they kept any thing that they had
fav'd, of what Kind foever, from me, God would
certainly take Vengeance of them, and they would
never thrive, nor profper in any thin^ that they
undertook , fb that I had every Bit of Iron which
they had hazardoufly and painfully lav'd, and
brought up ; as alfb every Piece of Board, or any
thing elfe -, which was aJJ of Service to me, as in
the Sequel of this Story you fhall hear.

Our Manner of Fifhing was thus : We ufed to
go from Town before Day, fo as to get down to
the Sea-fide before the Sun was very high, to
avoid his fcorching Heat in our Journey down the
Rocks, and took with us a Calabafli or two of
Water, according as our Company was, more or
lefs, alfo fome Pompion, Banana's, ^c, for Food.
Our fifhing Utenfils were long Canes for fifhing
Rods, and Cotten Lines, which they made and
twifted fo well, that I think they exceeded any of
our Hemp or Flax Lines made in England^ both

L^6' ]

for Strength and Durablenefs , we made ufe of
Stones, for want of Lead, to fink our Lines,
and did well enough, becaufe in moft Places
where we fifh'd on the Rocks, there was little or
no Tide run.

Our Hooks, as I hinted before, were made by
the old bungling Smith, of old Nails ^ though I
generally made my own Hooks, and alfb for the
Family, whereof I now was a Member j for I
could borrow a Hammer and a File of the old
Farrier, as they calfd him, whenever I would, and
I think my Hooks far exceeded his , but a bended
Iharp-pointed Nail, without any other Prepara-
tion, would have been fufficient ; for the Fifh in
thofe Parts were fo voracious, that if you were
not very watchful, and quick, they would fwal-
low the Hook down into their Belly, which they
feldom let them do, endeavouring always to hook
them in the Mouth, to prevent their cutting their
Lines with their Teeth, as almoft all the Fi(h there-
abouts have large and (harp Teeth, rather like
ravenous Land Animals, than our Fifh on the
Coaft of England ; and when at any Time they
hale a Fifti up that hath fwaJlow'd tne Hook, if
it fliould chance to cut the Line and efcape, they
would blame the Fifherman, and impute it to his
want of Skill, or Carelefinels, or both.

Our Bait was generally Crabs, which they were
very dexterous at catching • and when we could
not catch Crabs, we us'd to take Limpits, or any
other Shell-Fifh we could get upon the Rocks ;
and when we had caught a Fifn, we generally
made Bait of that ; though Crabs was the belt
and fureft Bait we could ufe.

They always brou2;ht Wood down with them
for Firing, which they gathered as they went
along, to boil our Fifti, and roaft our Pompion,
&c. with, and ufed to be out fomexXm^^ ^x^^

S3 ^^^^

four, five, or fix Days, according as we caught
Filh, or our Inclinations led us.

They gathered Salt on the Rocks, which wad
made by the Heat of the Sun, of the Sea-Water,
lying in the Holes of the Rocks, being either
caft up in the Hollows of the Rocks by the Spray
of the Sea beating up againft them when it blew ^
or when it was a clear Sun-fhine Day, at high
Water the Sea would fill fbme Hollows of mo
Rocks i and after the Sea was fallen, before it
came up again, it would all, if the Hole was
fliallow, be a dry Salt ; but if deep, then the .
Salt would lie at the Bottom ; or, if too deep,
thofe Hollows that the Sea flow'd up to, could
iiot, in lo (hort Time, kern any Salt ; but thofe
Hollows or Holes which were above the flowing of
the Sea, and fiU'd with Water, I have known it
all converted to Salt, or rather all the Water ex-
hal'd by the Sun, and only the Salt left in the
1 ole 9 and have oblerv'd it two Foot thick of
Salt, and to the Quantity of about four Bufhels,
or more, in a Hole' which did' not exceed five or
fix Yards fquare.

I am apt to think, that there is a certain Qua-
lity in fbme Rocks that helps, and in others, that
hinders the Salt's kerning , for in fome I have
leen Water that has flood fo long, that it has
been all vapourM away, leaving behind only a
Sediment as muddy Water does, but very felt,
and fometimes a thin Cruft lying on the Sediment,
Ibmething refembling the Crufl, or Cream that
lies on the Top of the Water, when you wafh or
purify Tartar, and commonly - call'd Cream of
Sartar^ but extreme fait and fbong, even to a
Corofivenefs ; whereas other Rocks fliall y^eld one
third or one fourth Part of Salt, in Proportion tq
jthe Qujintity of ^^ter contain'4 in thoie Hollows,

The Natives us'd to get their Salt in a Readi*
nefs firft, as much as they thought liifficient for. .
that Day's Ufe, and then all Hands went to fiih-i
ing 3 and in the Evening they us'd to gut, Iplit,
and fait what they caught, and let them lie in thcf
Salt in Heaps all Night, and in the Morning,
after the Sun was up, they Ipread them in the Sua
to dry, turning them as occafion requir d ; and
when they were hungiy, they drefi'd feme Fifli
and Pompion, which we never wanted whenever
I Happened to be with them ^ but if not, they
very leldom carryM any, contenting themfclves
with a little boil'd or broil'd Fi(h while abroad,
and that feldom ofiner than once, towards Night,
after they had done fifhing.

At thofe Fifhing-places which were eafy of Ac-
cefs, and often frequented by them, they ufed to
leave an Earthen Pot, which was free for any to
ufe who came a fifliing, and that for the Sake of *
the Fifli-Broth, which they efteem much beyond
ally Broth made of Flefli.

At Night they repofe themfclves in the HpUow •
of the Rocks ; being always careful not to lie
exposed to the felling of the Night-Dew ; and
they would gather dry Grafi, ^c. and bring it
down to lie on.

When we had caught Fifh enough, or was tir^d
of our Sport, and had a Mind to go to Town,
they would fend one up for an Afs, to come as
far as it could, and the reft would bring the Fifli
up at their Backs to the Place where the Als was,
which they loaded with it up to Town ^ and they
would always oblige me to ride down as far as the
Beaft could go, which was alfo brought for me
to ride on up again^ with the Afi that was to carry
the Fiih up.

S 4 Whqn

When we were come up with our Fifli, they
tis*d to fend to their Friends and Relations fiich a
Quantity as they thought fit, who us'd to do the
lame to them again : And this was our Manner of
fifhing at the Ifland of St. Johns.

One Thing I forgot to obferve, that.we always,
each of us, was provided with two Lines, one,
which was the finaller, we had fix'd to our Fifhing-
Rod with a little Hook, for catching the lefler
Fifli, and had our large Lines and Hooks ready
by us, when we faw a large Fifh, which we fear'd
would be too heavy for our finall Hooks and Fifh-
ing-Caness and fbmetimes, when Fifh did not
bite, they would Iwim away to a more convenient
Place, wnen they could not otherwile get along
for the Smoothnefs and Steepnels of the Rocks,
and iwim baqk again with a much larger Quantity
of Filh, than they could carry on the dry Land,
or be able to hale out of the Water without
Help.

As to their Hunting, the Privilege of killing
the wild Goats is intirely the Governor's, without
whoft Leave, no one dare hunt , and this was a
I^w made by the Portuguefe when they firft peo-*
pled thefe Iflands, and put a Breed of Cattle on
them, to prevent the Breed from being utterly
dcftroy'd.

This is the principal Privilege or Advantage the
Governor hath ^ who alio commands the Peace,
and decides the little Differences which fometimes
happens among them, and can, upon their not
iubmitting to his Decifion, confine them till they
do, in an open Place, wall'd round like the Pounds
which are in fbme Parts of England for imprilbn-
ing Cattle, when they are caught trelpaffing on
their Neighbours Ground ; but inftead of a Gate,
they generally lay only a Stick a-crofi, and thofe
iwiwfnt Criminal wiU ftay there, yrithout at-

tempting to go out, as if they had been in the
fecureft Prilbn in the World ; except when fome
of the higheft Ipirited amongft them, happening
to be overcome with Paffion, and inlpir'd wim
Revenge againft thofe that have oflended them,
fly out in their Rage ^ who, however,, as fbon as
caught again, are, by the Governor's Order, ty'd
Hand and Foot, and a Centinel is fet to watdi
them, and prevent their efcaping again, till they
agree with their Antagonift, ask the Governors
Pardon for going out of Prilbn without being
clear'd, and remain in Prilbn liich a Space c£
Time, as the Governor thinks his Crime hath de-
ierv'd , which is the utmoft Punifhment the Go-
vernor hath Power to inflid : Nay, if one kills
another, which hardly happens in an Age^ all the
Governor can do, is to confine him till he pacifies
the Relations of the Deceased by the Mediation of
his Friends, who are bound for the Criminal's
Appearance, when a Judge comes authorized firom
Portugal to do Juftice : Which never has been
yet, as far as I could learn from the Natives.

Sometimes when it is a Imall Crime, efpecially
if it be a lenior Perlbn, the Governor confines
him only in his own, or Ibme other Houfe ; and
this is reckoned a great Favour ^ for to be impri-
Ibn'd, is accounted fuch a great Scandal among
them, that Tyburn itfelf is hardly (6 much dreaded
by our Criminals in England^ as thole open Pri-
fons are by them. But to proceed : When the »
Governor has a mind to make a general Hunt, all
the Iflanders are fummonM, and all the Hunting-
Dogs are call'd. Thele are between a Beagle and
a Greyhound, not unlike the Mungrel Greyhounds
we have in England^ but Ihorter legg'd, and clum-
fier, with large Ears hanging down.

At Night, or when the Governor thinks fit to
leave off Jhunting, they meet all togjsthat^ a.wi tbfc

C i6& ] ■

GovtTTior parts the Venilbn among them as h^'
pleaies, fending what he judges proper to his own
Houfe, with all the Skins ^ and after he comes
home, he fends a Piece to one, and a Piece ta
another, of thofe that are old, or that were not
out a bunting • and the Skins he diftributes among
tfaem as he thinks convenient, or as their Neceffity
requires, referving the Remainder of the Skins
for the Lord of the Soil.

;lhey have a Report, that the King of Portu--
gal has lately given their Ifland to one of the
Xadies of his Court : But how; they came by this
Iii£>rmation I never could tell 3 however, moft of
the He-Goat S kins were laid by for her, in a Houfe
built for that Purpofe, according to their Report,
ever fince the Portuguefe firft brought them hither,
and which is call'd by them Cafa de Fazendoj (i, e,
a Warehoufe). And here they have lain fo long,
that many of them, as I obferv'd, were almoft
reducMfoDuft.

Sometimes the Governor hunts for his private
Diverfion, and then he fends only to fuch a Num-
ber, as he thinks fit, to accompany him , and
fometlmes he only fends, and does not go a hunt-
ing himfelf i and then, all the Venifon is brought,
together with the Skins, to his Houfe, where he
diftributes it as he thinks fit ; and there is none
allowed to keep Hunting-Dogs but whom he li-
cenfes, and thofe are call'd Cauffadors^ or Huntf^
men.

I made Enquiry from Time to Time when any
Ship had toucn d on the Ifland, and was informed,
that only two Ships had touched there in feven
Years Time, the one an Englifhman^ who bought
ibme Hogs of them, and the other a Portuguefe^
who anchored in a Bay calfd Terrier^ and landed
his Cask to fill Water, but was blown ofi^ and left
his Water-Cask behind him i as alfo one Black, a

Native of St. Nicholas^ who iwam from them^
and gave an Account, that they had Ibmc morr
of his Countrymen on Board, whom they were.
carrying to J5r^y?/ for Slaves.

Mr. Franklin and the reft informid^ me, that
French Ships often us'd to touch at St. Philsp%
and now and then a Ship came to trade there for
Mules, and that the French frequently us*d to comC
over in their Boats to buy Fowls and Hogs 5 but
of late Years they had difcontinu'd that Practice,
which made them conclude, either that no Shipa
had been there trading lately, or that they lup-
ply'd themfelves better at St. PbiUp\ than they
could at St. Jobn^s,

Hereupon, I would fain have had the Governor
to let me mend up his old Boat to go over to St.
Philtp\ and offer d to be the Carpenter myieif^
and alio to find Nails^ which, as I mentioned be-
fore, I had a great Quantity of, and likewife to
make her Sails of my Jib, &c, but he would not
confent to it. For fear^ he faid, that I Jhould covw
to any Mifchance^ by Reafdn the Boat was fmall^
and the Wood n:ery much decaf d and rotten : Jfc*
fides^ be bad beard^ he iaid, that the Channel be^
twecn St. John J and St. Philip V, was <v€ry turhu^
Unt^ with great Seas^ ftrong Currents^ and violent
Gales of Wind. All which was very true ; yet I
would freely have run the Hazard, if the Gover- ,
nor would have let me mend his Boat ; but he
ftiU deny'd me for the Reafons above mentioned ;
but however told me, If I underfiood bow to build
a VeJJel^ J might build one new^ large^ and ftrongj
there being li^od enough on the Ijlana^ and be doubts
ed not but all the Inhabitants likewife would affift
fne^ as much as they were capable : Jbtd^ cont*nu*d
he, Singore Carolos bath often told us^ that he
could but Id any Veffel^ if be bad Conveniencies :
fiow you have Naifs emmgb fo buM a Idryi V^^ti^

[ i<!8 ]

/ helievej and we have three or four Hatchets
among us^ and you ba've an Adz which was favd^
and you need not do any of the laborious Work^ but
leave that for us^ and you^ and Singore Carolos
only do that Part of the Work which , our Ingenuity
won^t reach to. We have Wood enough^ and} ever al
cf us can handle a Hatchet^ fo as to cut down Fig"
urees^ fplit them^ and hew Boards out of them^ and
I will engage to provide you with Boards enough^
cr what other Sort of timber you would have , and
my Brother^ who put up the Bed for me^ who^ I
told you^ had been at St. Jago, is a good Carpenter^
th^ I wortt pretend to fay^ lihs your White Car pen-"
ters ^ but yet he can work very well^ and makes
iUmcfi all our Doors on the I/land, and has be fides
made Stools for the Padre, which alfo feveral others
en the Ifland can do ; and the Chair which you have
feen at the Padre'j Houfe^ Jhews that he is a Work-
man.

I told him, / was afraid I Jhould not have Nails
enough ; (having only fix or feven hundred broken
and whole, befides a great many large Spikes,
ibme Bolts, and other Iron-work, which they had
fevM. He laid. He thought I was the bcft Judge
in that Cafe ^ and that if I wanted^ I could i7tfiru£i
the old Farrier^ who was alfo ingenious of himfelf
fo as to make me feme Nails out of the old Iron.
Buty faid he, you Jhall promife me to make one
large enough to carry you over the Channel of St.
Philip'y fafely without any Danger^ and that cannot
'be lefs than twice the Bignefs^ at leaft^ of my Boat ;
therefore^ continued he, you fhall not make, her lefs
than twice as longj and twice as hroad^ and twice'y
or more^ as deep as mine was^ that the great Sea^^
in pafjing over the Channel^ may not be able to fill
her.

Why^ laid I, to make a Boat t\ Ice the Lengthy
Sreadtby and Depth of yoKrs^ would he to make

cne a ^eat many T'imes bigger than your Boat ; but
all the Geometry that I was Maftcr of, could not
convince him or that.

So at laft we ccmcluded to build j and when we
had taken a general Survey of the whole Ifland,
to find what Tools were on it fit for our Occafion,
we mufter'd- up three finall Hatchets, a Thing
like a Butcher's Cleaver, two Gimblets, one about
the Size fit for a twenty-penny Nail, the other a
very large Spike Gimblet, a finall Pin-mall, one
Claw Hamn^er, one like a Cobler*s Hammer, and
a double-headed Hammer about three Found
Weight, befides what the Smith had.

So after we had fully concluded upon the Mat-
ter, all the Inhabitants were fiimmon*d to meet
before the Governor's Houfe, which accordingly
they did, the Governor making a Speech to them,
fliewing them the Caule for which they met, and
how charitable and good a Work it was to affift
me, and withal, how it would redound to their
Credit, ^c.

They anlwer'd, i'hat he could not he more ready

to asky than they to grant ^ and that they were wholly

xit my Call^ when and where J pkas d^ and that I

might always command them as my Servants and

Slaves, ^hey were very forry^ they faid, to think

of my leaving them ; but when they confiderd how

mean I livd here^ both for Food and Raiment^ as

well as perhaps the Want of other things which they

might be ignorant of^ they could not be fo unjuft as

to defire me to continue in that Mifery^ which they

were fenfible I underwent while there with them :

Sthat they wijh^d their I/land yielded thofe Necejfa"

riesy as well as Pleafures and Delights^ which my

Country did^ and then perhaps they wr^uld keep me

with them per Force^ and think they did not wrong

me ^ buty as it 7«rj, they could not in Keafon per^

. tuade me^ much lefs force me to ^k'j iwitb tfaem.

[ 270 ]

I told them, / thanked them kindly^ and hoped t
psould come back one ^ime or otber^ when I had it
in my Power to make them fome Retaliation.

They faid, ^hey delird none^ my good Opinion
of them was all they wipod J of, and for the Continue
' ance of that they would do any T'hing that was in
their Power. Theyfaid, ^hat fince they had but three
Hatchets, all them that could ufe them, would tak^
their ^urns Day by Day, that the Hatchets might
never be idle, and thofe that could not exercife the
Hatchets, muft carry down the Boards and Timber,
after bew^d and a Ittile dryd, to the Place where /
had a Defign to build the Boat at.

All this was accordingly put in Execution, nei-
dier would they let me work at the cutting of the
Trees down, or fplitting, or hewing them into
Boards ; but bid me referve myfelf ^gainft I came
tx> build the Boat, to do that Part which they
could not.

They had an Ingenuity peculiar to themfelves
in flitting the Trees after they felled them, which
was thus : When they had cut down the Tree to
that I.cngth which would ferve to work it for a
Board, which feldom exceeded 7 or 8 Foot,
though fbmetimes, by Chance, they run 12 or 14
Foot in Length, they would lay the Piece along,
and chock it faft with Stones, that it might not
roll, and then they would chop a Channel, or
Gutter, as narrow as they could, and deep j after
which, they would turn the Piece of Timber,
and right oppofite to the firft, they would di^ in
another Gutter with their Hatchets, as deep as
they could, the whole Length of the Piece, and
then they would get Wedge-like Stones, that
were lb thick, as to fill up the Breadth of the
Gutter, before it touched the Bottom ^ then tak-
ing great Stones, as big as they could lift, and
ftanding clofe to the Piece of Timber, they would

throw

C 17» ]

throw them down with all their Might, on their
Stone Wedges, which they fo often repeated, till
the Piece $lit, which would not be long, pro-
vided they made their Gutters deep enough ; and
they would be fure always to fplit as ftraight a^
they made their Gutters. After they had fplit their
Piece of Timber, they would hew away the flat
Sides as even as they could, which, for the moft
Part, was pretty tolerable ^ and then they would
hew away the other Side, 'till it was of the Size '
which I ordered them, which was Two Inches •
for they could not be expeded to hew them £>
ftraight, or even, as a Saw would cut^them ; not
could I ever get them to hew by a Line 5 for
though, they faid, that might be a Guide to
*W hites, yet, they never being ufed to it, it rather
hindered them, than any ways helped them to
cut ftraight.

After we had got a good Quantity of Boards
made, there fell out a lucky Hit to help our De-
fign, which was a large Piece of Wreck, drove
down clofe along the Illand, on the North- Weft
Side, and by the Current fetting round, brought
it under the Lee of the Ifland, and, by good luck,
the Sea Breeze fetting in, brought it to the Shore
near a Place called Scioy where fome^ People were
fifhing, who made fhift to fecure it, while they
fent others to get more Help, and call me, they
thinking it had been a whole Veflel, and that I
could contrive fome Way to free her, and fit her
up to go to my own Country in.

I faw it was only a Piece of a Ship's Quarter,
but had no convenient Place to hale it afliore to
lecure it there, becaule of the Rocks 3 wherefore
they propofed to float it down to Scio^ unlefs they
met with any convenient Beach to hale it aftiorc
Upon before j fo they made faft Lines to it to tow
it by, and launching it off clear of the Wafti o€

f

C V2 3

die Sea, away they Iwam with it, to the Number
of between 30 and 40, and, with great Difficulty,
got it into a little Cove, between Scio and Pi/l
carree Picuana^ where they haled it to the Shore ^
from whence they fent to inform me of it.

I made all the Hafte to them that I could, and
finding we had not Help enough, I fent up to
the Governor and Prieft for more, which they
procured, and came down themfelves ; and at the
feme Time, I fent for Ibme Ropes that had been
left where I had been Shipwreck^, with which
we haled it up as high as we could, and went to
work to br^k it up as well as we could with Stones,
inftead of Mails ; and faved all the Nails, Iron-
Work, and all the Plank and Timber which we
could ^ and after Two Days working upon it,
we got it broke up fb as to be able to hale all
of it that we thought would be to our Purpofe,
clear of the Sea, which afforded us a good (^an-
tity of Boards, Timber, Nails, Spikes, Bolts,
with all the Mizen Chain Plates, Bolts, v/ith the
Mizen Maft, and Handing Rigging, the which I
concluded fhould be my Keel, and refolved upon
this Cove to be my Building-Place ^ {o after wc
had fecured all that we could, or thought worth
-fecuring, we'went up to Town, and I would have
gone about Building forthwith ^ but the Governor,
and fome others, told me, That I had better let
them make me Boards enough before I took the
People ofF from making them ; for that they were
now fixed at it in feveral Gangs, and if I took
them off^5 it might be fome Difficulty to get them
to it again j and that befides, they could not be
making Boards, If 1 began to build, becaufe there
were not Hatchets enough for us to work at both j
befides, the Wood would be drier and lighter to
work, as well .as to carry down from the Moun-
tains where they cut them, to the Place where I

defigned

--/

C ^7 3 ]

tl^figned to build ; and therefore they rightly aa«
vifed, it would be better to let them cut Boardii
and Timber enough, and rather more than lefijj
before J began to build.

This Advice was not to be neglefted, drid id
theme^n Time, I got all the Rbpes, Boards, and
my Boom, which yet remainol at tht Place
where I w^ wrecked, and every thing elfe that
I thought might be ot Ufe, to my Building-Place^
which was A uhall League froin the Gove where
I defigned to begin the Woi-k. ^

I was not without many Doubts and Fe^rs or
niy Ability to build this Boat, having never iii
my Life done any thing of that Kind, nor any
tiling elfe of Carpenters Work, iand thought to
myfelf, if I ihould riot be able to go thrdugh
with it, and efpecially now they had takett ic>.
jhuch Pains about it, and were all confident 6f
my Ability (though I all along told them, that I
never had done any thiilg of that Kind, and wai
no Carpenter) yet I w2ls afraid it might occalioil
them to leflen their Efteeip of me, and, berhaps^
flight .me , but then I thought to myfelf on thd
other Hand, that no Man was born ^ Carpenter i
that it was Neceffity which put Mankind bii
many Inventions at firft y arid that I h^d a bettei?
Foundation to go upon, thari any of thofe could
have, that firft let about it, having feen a Veffel
begun, and built from the Keel : All thefe Cdrifi-
derations, I lay, encouraged me to proceed ; arid
fince I had gone thus far, I thought myfelf obliged
tb ufe riiy utmoft Skill to compleat it.

After all was done ready for going to Workj t
acquainted the Govqf nor, t^c. With my Refblution
td begin, who wiftied tnfe Succels j and he, and
ifiy Landlord, aflured me^ that I ftibuid be cdn*-'
ftantly fupf)lied with Provifictos, ^c. which waa
fiMill/ per ^med I arid fo ! went diov^tv ^^l^

C ^74 ]

Six or Eight of the beft Carpenters the Iflandl
afforded, accompanied with others, who empioy'd
their Time in bringing, carrying, and affifting
in what they could, and going daily, Ibme of them,
to the adjacent Rocks to fifh for us that ^f ere at
. Work; for they had all, both Carpenters and
others, brought down their Fi(hing-Geer with
them 5 and every Day we had fbme that came
from Town with Pompion, ^c. who would ftay,
and let the others go up that had a Mind • fb.that
we had always Hands enough down ( befides the
Singores Carpentaras ) to do all the drudging
Work, as carrying, lifting, and holding, as weu
as to catch us as much Fifli as we could eat.

The Governor came down the Day after
me, and brought a Line with him, which was
about Twenty Foot long, it being the Length of
his Boat, and told me. That he underfiood by Sin-
gore Carolos, that I defigned to make my Boat but
little (if any thing) bigger than his y which ^ if I
did not^ he would forbid all the People to affift me
any farther ; for that he^ and Singore Carolos too^
were of Opinion^ ^hat Ifhould only caft my [elf away^
through my Earnefinefs to get off the I/land.

I told bim, / thanked him for his Care^ but
would ha've him believe^ I knew what was fit to
'venture iji^ as well as Singore Carolos : And if
Singore Carolos is fuch an underjianding Man^ iaid
I, with a little Warmth^ why does not he coim down^
that I might hanje his Affift an ce^ to advife and con--
tri've how itfhould be ?

He faid, Singore Carolos was not well^ and was
'Very forr': that he was not able to come ; but was in
a great Tear that I would make the Boat fo fmall^
the fooner to get finifloed^ and ^t off the Ijlandy that
Ijhould drown myfelf

Itold

C i^5 ]

1 ^told hiiri, / would engage to mAki hH i/^
ttiougb to go almoft any where in her.

He faid, ^hen I muft make her many fimes big'^
ger than his Boat 3 hut let me make her as big as I
wouid^ he would engage me Boards^ firnberj and
m^lp enough.

1 thanked hi% and asked him, Hofxi big hi
vsmld have me make her ?

He faidj At Uaft Stwice as big ds his own Boati
I told him, / did defign to do that ^ and he de^
iited me to fliew him how long I defigned to makd
the Keel, I meafured off Thirty, Foot, though not
defigning her nigh that Length, only to fatisfy
him I and he meafiired with his Line, and finding
it Ten Foot more than the Length of his Boa^
he faid, ^bat would carry but Half as much more
than that.

I told him, ^e Way that I Jhould build hef^
Jhe would^ at that Lengthy carry Four ^imes as
much as his Boat 5 but he would not belieVe me : .
Whereupon, I faid, i'hat if ^ after the Boat was
built ^ Jhe did not carry abcFve twice as much as his^
I would gi've her to him^ and tarry upon the I/land
till a Ship came.

Well^ then^ fays he, twill take you at your.
Word y if Jhe does not carry as much more ds my
Boaty without the Keel being any longer than the
Lenph of this Line and Ha^y you aite to fiay with
us till a Ship comes.
. Welly Ikid I^ ifs a Bargain.

So he borrowed a Line from end that Was by*
and meafured ;he Length, and Half Length ox
it j and cut it off, and gave it to his Brother^
Whd Was one of my Carpenters, and bid bm h6
fiire not t{> let me make it a bit Jhorter s for hs
"would not have mi to tah fo much Pains ^ and the
iTeJJilHot to btjit tQ venture m at lafl.

. He had brought a Goat down with him, with
Pompion, and fome Ears of Indian Corn, Milk^
and Cufcufe, which he gave urf, and in the
Evening went away.

I meafured the Keel out Twenty-five Foot^*
which, they infifted, was not the Length I had
propofed to the Governor : I told them, fbey
Jbouldfee^ "juhen it wasfinijbed^ that I was a better
Judge of that^ than any one on the Ifland^ affuring
tbem^ That a Veffel of that Lengthy would carry
Sl'brce or Four times as much as the Governors
Boat ; and that if we made it any higger^ for want
ofN.ji/Sj and other Neceffaries tofafien and fe cure
Irr^ the n:ery ffeight and Bulk of her^ would make
Icr liable to he ftaved to Piece s^ the firfi Sea that
jbc encounter d with.

They anfwered, 9%ey believed what Ifaid to
/r tme^ and wasfure I htew better than the Govern
v:Ty cr iwy^lody elfe on the Ijland^ even than Sin-
gore Carolos ^ a^id therefore ^ as it was I that was
t: venture in I tr^ J ought to do her my own JVay ;
4ud ttjt II \:y zcbicb J tbcygbt was fecureft.

I dcnrtvl them not to tSke any Notice to the Go^
irrKrr^ h^r thit Jbe -zcJs as big as he would have
ter^ TsJJ Jbtr iv.is f.mfued : IVhich^ they faid, they
^KHiki not.

I went on with my Work, but was at a fad
Lofs for a Saw, which fbme of them hearing me
talk of, faid. There was an old Saw on the Ifland,
but they thouglit it would not cut ^ I defired
them to get it for me, and it might be that I
could Iharpen it ; they laid, they would , lb I bid
them to borrow alio, one of the Smith's Files, and
bring it down with the Saw ; which they accord-
ingly did the next Day.

The Saw was very old, but it was not alto-
gether lb much eaten with Ruft, as one might
have cxpe6led it to be^ havbg been kept dry ; and

r

r ^77 ]

in thofe hot Countries, if Irpn be kept from the
Dew and Dampnefi of the Sea^ it will laft a long
Time before it decays with Ruft.

I fharpened it with the File, and fet it as welt
as I could, fb that I made it cut tolerably well,
which they all much admired at, laying, i'hat
none of the People on the Ifland^ could find the IVay
to make the. Saw Jharp , and that they believed^
it exceeded the Ingenuity of Singore Carolos^
though he was very ingenious^ and^ till I came
among them^ they thought no-body could go beyond
him ^ but they faw^ as they faid, / could far out^.,
ftrip him J as be out-Jlripped them.

I told them, ^hat Singore Carolos was an inge^
nious Man^ and^ as I might do fome things better
than he J fo I did not doubt ^ kut he could do a great
many Things better than L

Noy they iaid, they would not believe but I could
do every thing better than Singore Carolos, ^c,

I believe I had nigh half finiflied, before Mr.
pranklin came down to me, and he had been
ailing all the Time. He told me, ^at if he had
heen well^ to have been with me at the Beginning
to have affifted me^ it would^ he believed^ have
been fomething more forward ; but that the People
were fo unwilling that Ifbould go from them^ that
they Jeernd fome of them to fay^ ^hat he was partly
the Advifer and Contriver of my making this Boat ^
And fome of them^ fays he, owe me an III Will
about it y but the lefs for my not being with you 9*
for that other-fome believe it to be wholly your own
Contrivance.

I tol4 him, IVhen I went up to ^own^ I would
clear him of all that^ and thought^ if it was fo^
that he had better go up to ^own again^ to avoid
their caufelefs Sufpicion.

T i He

[ 178 ]

V He (aid. Now he was come down^ he would fi ay
4nd ajjifl me ^wo or ^bree Days.

I toid hitn, Ijhould he very glad of his Company ^^
frovided it would not be prejudicial io him.

He faid. For a Bay or ^wo^ it could not^ atid
his 5time among them would not he long ; for b3
had determined^ he faid, to go with me in the
Boat.

And, indeed, he had given me this Afliirance
before, which was one great Reafbn of my build-i
ing her ; for to have a Boat without Hands, would
have been the lame, in effed, as to have no Boat
Ot all.

The Perfbn alio, who had Iwum away from
the Portuguefe Ship when it put into this Illand
from St. Nicholas^ had promifed to go with me s
and likewife thofe that came with me from St.
Nicholas ; as alio Domingo ; and {o did feveral
others, whom I had no great Dependance on,
though I had on thofe I have now mentioned.

Mr. Franklin loft much of his Credit by this
Trip, which I was forry for, but could not help
it ; for he, it feems, had oftentimes laid. That
he could build, ^c. And as for the fheorick Part,
he might, I believe, underftand it very well,
being a Man of a good Genius, as well as a
Man of Letters, having had, I believe, good and
Gentleman-like Education ^ but for the Want of
the Pra6lical Part, he was more awkward than
my black Carpenters by far, which they prelently
perceived, and were not a little proud of \t^
though I did my Endeavour to blind his Defe<Sl:,
as much as I could, by telling them, fhat he
was feehld^ and that bis Hand Jhook^ thro Weah*
nefs occafioned hy bis Ulnefsy which puffed off well
^no^gh.

By

C ^79 ]

By this Time, my black Carpenters wcfo
grown fb dextrous, that by giving them a Mould
with them, they would go up and hew me out
Boards to anlwer the Winding and Rounding at
the Bow, or abaft, and likewife Timber, and
would cut or hew any thing to fit, I thought,
better than I could, though they did not
think Co themfelve;s 5 but the Witchcraft was, the
Lines ^^nd Sweeps ^ for I had made me a Pair of
wooden Cbmpafles, which I fbmetimes uled , and
I never faw any thing fb wondered at, as at my
fetting up the Stem and Stern-Poft, becaufe I
uied a Plummet #0 let them upright.

I made ufe of the Wreck Boards which we had
faved, along the Body of the Boat, where it did
not require much bending or winding -, for they
were fo dry, ftuborn, and ftifF, that they would
Iboner break than bend much.

Our Nails began now to diminifli apace, fb
that having nailed the Veflel indifferently lecure
at the Bottom, I was forced to faften only the
But-Ends, and here and ther^, where Neceflity
required, was obliged only to pin, or trunnel
them with our large Spike Gimblet, which, as
Cafes then ftood, was the beft Shift we could
make.

The Length at the Keel, was near Twenty-
five Foot ; the Length between Stem and Stern-
Poft, Thirty Foot ; Breadth at the main Beam
Ten Foot ^ Depth about Four Foot Ten Inches ;
I laid a Half Deck abaft, a little above Eight
Foot in Length ; a Fore-caftle from the Stem-aft,
fbmething above Seven Foot ; I laid in Four
Beams that I double kneed, fattening the Knees
with Spikes ; the main Beam had Three Knees at
each End, whereof one of them was a ftanding
Knee ; I bolted them with fbme of the finalleft
Bolts pointed, and boring the Length of our

T 4 ^^^^

Spike Gimblet, we forced the reft by driving the
Bolt red hot.

'" Aftqr we had skinn'd her, there wereftill Boards
enough to deck her ; but for y/ant of Naiis
(which, at the latter End of our Work, grew fb
icarce, that w^ were forced to make life of all
(he broken Points of Nails) I frequently took a
iPoint of a Nail, which was but little more in
Length, than the Thicknefs of the Plank, and
after 1 had drove it up, I drove a broken Stump
of a N^il upon that, till I had drqve it half way
3n the Plank, to fake the better Hold of the
Timber. ^

What now concerned me moft, was how to
piake her tight : I had Ibme old fpare Ropes, of
which I made Oakum , but 1 found Cotton and
Mofs did bptter : My Method to try how the
fCaulking held, was in the Evening, after we had
left off Work, to heave Water hard againft the
iSeams within Side, and where I perceived the
Water to go through, I caulked it over again,

I finilhed my Maft, and fixed the Rigging ; . and
the Pieces of the Jibb of my former Sloop made
jne a Main-Sail, but too narrow by a Breadth and
a half; but there was no Help.

My Fore-fail and Jibb, were patched out of
the Pieces of the Main-Sail, and of Cotton Cloth,
Which was given me by the Natives, fome contri^
buting one Piece^ fbme another ; fome bigger,
ibmefinaller.

My Poom I made of my old Gaff, by fcarfing
9 Hand-fpike to it.

My Rudder Irons, I ;nade thus ^ I got Three
Eye-Bolts, and with heating, I fharpened their
points, arid drove them into the ^tern Pofl:, up
p the Eyes, which flayed ip the RoQm of Braces^
pr Gudgeons^ call them whipl^ you pleafe.

My

My Pintles were made of broken Bolts t hat ha d
loft their Heads, which I bended thus ] ,

and having pointed one End I drove it into the
Rudder, firft making a Way for it with my Spike*
Gimblet, for fear of fplitting my Rudder.

Having got every thing in order, and fixM, I
was refblv'd to ma^e a Trial of her, tho' I much
leared my Caulking would come out at Sea, hav-
ing nothing to bind or fecure it with ; and ac-
cordingly feht Word up to Town that I was all
ready, and defir'd they would come down, and
lend their Afliftance to launch the Veflel, which
the more Help we had, would receive rfie lefi
Damage.

Accordingly they all came down, with the Prieft
jand Governor, and fbnte Women.

Two or three Days before, four of the Blacks,
with Nicholau Verd^ went and made faft a Rope
to my Anchor, which lay in the Salt Point Bay^
and not only that, but haled the Palm out from
under foine Rocks that it was hook'd in, and fwan^
it, I believe, a Stone's Caft, or better, and let it
go again when they faw it clear of Rocks : I was »
lore a to take their Words for their ynhooking it
from the Rock, but being on the Tops of the
Rocks over-head when they did it, I was an Eye-
Witnefi of their bringing it up to the Surface of
the Water, and floating it away {o far ; which I
was very much furprizM at, believing it impoffible
for four Times the. Number to have fuftain*d the
Weight of the Anchor, which, befides thq Stock,
was two hundred three quarters, and the Stock
then being fb much Water-lbaken, could not
>veigh much lefs than one hundred Weight.

The People, as I faid, being all come down,
^e launched her very well j but (he made a prodi-
gious Quantity of Water, as much as two Hands
ippuld keep free bjr conftantly baling, I ftopp'd

C i«i ]

ftveral Places where it weep'd in ; but could fee
nothing of a conftant Leak, except under three
of the Floor Timber Heads, which I couJd not
come at to ftop, neither did it feem to me that
half the Water that we baled out, could come ini
at all thofe Places where we difcoverM it to leak ;
however, I chinch*d it as well as I could ; and
then I confulted with Mr. Franklin which was the
beft Way to come round to Fuurno^ that being the
beft Place on t;jie Ifland to take in Provifions, and
to hale her aftiore at, there running, in fine Wea-
ther, but littlp Surf, or SuflT as Seamen call it, in
that Place ^ and I propofing to take up the Anchor
in the Salt Point Bay in my Paflage to Fuurno^
which I could not do without the Veflel : But
withal, it was fonething hazardous to attempt
that Way, for fear the Veflel would not work,
which one might reafbnabjy doubt, confidering
the Builders and Tools, as alio the Smallnefs of
the Sails, which tho' fb well cut as to ftand tolera-
bly well, yet were little more than half enough
for the Veflel j and if we ftiould, by that Way of
Proceeding, put off of the Ifland, it would be
in a manner, impoflible to fetch the Ifland of
St. Philip\ and then we ftiould be exposed to
the wide Ocean, and have a long Run before we
could fetch any Land, in a leaky and <^en
Boat, and with very little Provifions.

I had indeed made me a wooden Hillickj which
I faften'd to a Stone, as the Newfoundland Fifliing-
Shallops ufe, by Means of my Shrouds, which I
had lav'd, and now ^liced together, to the Quan*
tity of about 25 Fathcwns 5 but I did not think
this fiifficient to fupply the Place of an Anchor,
which made me very defirous to recover tihat in
Salt Point Bay.

Mr.

C *8} 3

Mr. Franklin advis'd me Jtot to run fuch a Ha-^
Zard on the Account of gettm the Ajtchor ; and
faid. He helievd I might get one more fttitahle for
W ^ejfel^ and alfo with a new Hawfer to it^ which
the Portuguefe had left behind him at Ferrier, when
Toe was blown off from the I/land^ and left bis IVatet
Cask behind him.

I told him, ^hat would do better^ if we could
find the Anchor^ tho I fupposd the Hawfer would
not be much worthy after it had lain fo long in the
IVater.

He laid, ^hat he wets on Board the Portuguefe
Ship when the Anchor was carry! d outy and that it
was but a fmall Hatch Anchor^ and the Hawfer
was neWy and he was fure it could he found ; and
that feveral of the Blacks^ as well as he^ knew
whereabouts in the Bay it lay : fhat it had a Buoy
to it ^ but the Buoy Rope was fo fhort^ that it did
not reach the Surface of the Water at low tVater^
hut mi^t be feen under IVater in fine Weather.

Hereupon we askM ibme of the Blacks, whp
told me, ^hey had feen the Buoy fince I had been
on the Ifland^ and did not know but it might be
there yet , but whether it was or noty they were fur^
they could fi}id the Anchor.

The Negro who had fwam off from the Portu-'

guefey told me, ^hat he was on Board of the Por-^

tuguefe when he drove off : ^hat his great Anchor

came home^ and the Hawfer broke at the Windlace^

or fomewhere within Board ; /or, he faid, he coul^

not tell me fo clearly y not knowing the proper ^erms j

hut he was fure the Hawfer broke withiny and that

there was a great deal of it left with the Anchor :■

Sthat when they moord with the fmall Ancbory it

was let go in Shallow Watery and the Buoy bore ;

hut when the Gale of Wind came oUy that fha

brought home the great Anchory the little Anchor^

f0me hmify and, drazgd into deeper Water -^ fh

that the Buoy Kope heing Jhort^ it did not hear ^ aiujl
when he found that the Ship was driving out to Sea^
he jump a over Boardy and [warn ajhore : And that
fever al times fince^ he had feen the Buoy^ &c. aTtd
wa^ furfi he could find the Anchor ^ unlefs it was
' iur/d in the Sand^ tho^ there was no Buoy to it.

Hereupon I concluded to go round by the F<?r-
per to the Fuurno ; for that Way I run no Hazard
of being blown off^ by Realbn I always had fbme
of the Ifland to L^ward of me s but whether it
was my laying open the Danger of being blown
off by going the other Way, or how, I can't
tell ^ but Mr. Franklin found Means to excufe and
put off his going with me in the Boat till I got to
Vmmoy and then too, as you ftjall hear in the Se-
quel of the Story.

I prepared eyery Thing ready, and made four
Oars, by fcarfirig two Pieces together in each Oar,
for I could not get Pieces long enough without do-
ing lb ; and being a calm Day, we rowM along
Shore, and got to Ferrier Bay very fafe, and with
very little Trouble, fave the Labour of Rowing.

This good Succds, which crowned our firft At-
tempt, fo encouraged the Blacks, that I believe
forty, or more, .profFer'd their Service to go with
me.

When we had been th^re a Day or two, find^
ing her ftill continue leaky, I concluded to hale
her up, and fent up to Town for Help -, who
accordingly came, and we got her up, and then
we went to work to put in a good deal of Water,
to lee where it came out, thereby to difcover all
the Leaks.

I found one great Leak, which was a Knot
Hole, juft at the Scarff of the Stem to the Keel,
which run as large as a Beer Barrel Tap : I was
glad when I law it, and ftopp'd that, and the
•ther L^ks ; but all mv Seams wanted caulkinsr

^^va

*»

C ^85 3

igain ; for the Oakum and Cotton hanging out of
the Seams, made a comical Sight at a Diftance ^
and what to do I could not tell : However, £
made it all in as well as I could ; and intimating
to ifome of the Blacks, that if I had Tallows to ,
lay on the Seams, it would not only keep the
Oakum from waihing out, but would alio make
the Veflel a great deal more tight, they faid,
S'hey were fure^ if / asJid the Governor^ be would
order a general Hunting Match ^ and kill a good
Quantity of Goats ^ and farue the fallow for me.

So I concluded to leave ibme Hands with the
3^pa(, to keep her from flirinking by wetting her
often in the Day, and as the Water leaked out,
or dry'd up with the Heat of the Sun, to reple-
nifh it by putting Water from the Sea into hcc^ ^
which they promised they would, and I (hew'd
them how high I would have it kept, ^viz^ to
cover the Floor Timber Heads, and {o I came up
to Town ; and as fbon as I had acquainted the
Governor, he not only promised me what I <le*
fir'd, but leem'd angry becaufe I was not io free
as to ask it at firft. I told him, ^hat I had been
fo troublefome to him^ and all the Singores of the
Jjland^ that I would not put them to this till I found
the Necefjity of it^ and Impojfibility to do without

This was fb far from being a fufEcient Realon
to him, that he was the more angry, and faid,
^hat he and all the Singores on the Ijland were at
my Service^ as well as everything that the I/land
produc^dj and I had fo many repeated Proofs of it^
Jtnce Ihad the Misfortune of being placed there ^ that
be thought it a great Efult in me to conceal from
them any thing that I fiood in Need of that the
Jjland afforded.

Havin^i

[ z8<5 ]

Having concluded a general Hunting, fhe^
kilfd about 40 Goats , bnt it being the Time o^
Year when they yielded but little Tallow, Out of
them all we did not get, I believe, more than
ftmr or five Pounds, and above half that was Skin^

The Governor ask*d me, if that would do ? 1
told him. It mufij fince we could not get any more ;
and that the Gt)ats yielded fo little^ that it was not
worth while to kill any more • hut would make that
do for the wotft Places in the Bottom ^ and thanlCd
him for what he had done.

He told me, / need noty he hop'd^ douht ^ my
Jfeing welcome '^ but ask a me. If Cows TalloTxi
would notfernje inftead of Goats ? I told him, E'very
hit as well. He ask'd me, IVhether Hogs Fat
would do? ^l told him, No^ it was fo foft^ that
with the Heat of the Sun warming the Heater it
would wajh off.

He faid. He was forry fat that^ hecaufe the
Hogs now were fat^ and he could get enough of
their Fat ^ but was afraid the Cows would yield as
little Fat as the Goats ; hut however^ he faid, he
would look out one of the fatteft of all his Cows^ and
kill ity and according as that pronfd^ or I wanted^ he
would kill more.

I thankM him, and told him, / would go down
and ufe what I had^ and in the mean time^ defird
him to fend me the Fat that the Cow yielded ; which
he laid he would : fb down 1 went, taking the
Negro who Iwam from the Portuguefij with ano*
ther call'd Fum-fo-roon^ (who alfb had been on
Board the Portuguefe^ but not when he drove to
Sea, and had likewile leen the Buoy under Wal-
ter, fince I came to the Ilknd) and two or three
more.

When I came down, I found that nly Blacks,
who I gave in Charge to keep the Boat wet, had
been very diligent, and I believe had not let her*

C ^87 3

iJry in any Part of her all the Time I was abfent,
infbmuch that flie rather fweU'd than flirunk j bu«
however, now I was refolvM to let her dry, and
(brink her Seams, and fo caulk her all over anew 5
for by caulking her fo much as I had done, I hadt
improved very much in this Art, fo that I could
now caulk better, and, as the Caulkers term it,
make the Oakum not only ftand fairer, but alfo
firmer ; and fbme of my Black Carpenters were
not much behind me, tho' I always try*d their
Work after them.

My Divers did not feek for the Anchor the firft
Day, as being weary of their Journey down ; but
the next Day, to the Number of twelve, they
fwam off, and I believe might be five or fix
Hours in the Water before they found it ; and
were going, to give it over, when Funhfa-roon acci-
dentally playing with Ibme of the others, at their
uiual Game of Plunging, and ftriking with their
Feet, in Imitation of the Tbrejher and Grampus^^
Filh, and diving from him that ftruck at him, he
happened to ftrike againft the Buoy, which was
about a Fathom under Water, there being fo
much more Water there than the Length of the
Buoy Rope.

He immediately role up, and hollowed out as
loud as he could, ^be Anchor ! the Anchor ! At
which they all flock'd about him; and diofe who
were with me on the Shore, hearing him, and lee-«
ing the reft flocking to him, they all jump'd into
the Sea, leaving me alone, and went^ to help
them.

The Anchor was bury'd in the Ground, which
is thereabouts a tough clammy ftiff Owfe, or Clay,
covered over with loft Owle and Sand mixM, and
jthey were a long Time getting it out of the
Ground, but at laft did ; and then they attempted
to get the Hawfer, which lay bury'd in the Owfe^

t iSfe 3

sMld after abundance of ftriving, and lowering thidf
Anchor down upon the Ground again, to reft, at
laft they brought it to the Shore, which, from thei
Place they firft took it up at j wanted, I really be-
lieve, very little of a Mile.

I was very glad when I faw the Anchor and
Hawler, which had been but very little wore, and
was then frefti and good, being a four Ihch and
half Hawfer, and about 45 Fathom long.

Both Anchor and Hawfer were very fit for me^
both for Size and Length ^ the Anchor, I believe,
weighing about ofie hundred and a half.

I gave them abundtoce of Thanks t They faid,
J was heartily 'Welcome^ and wijhed tbey could do
more for m^y &c.

The fame Evening, the Governor fent me down
about four or five Pounds of Tallow, and a Piece
of Beef of about twenty Pounds, and acquainted
me withal, 9^bat that was all the Shallow the Cow^
afforded^ and was the fattefi he had ; hut if I
thought Ifhould want any more^ and would fend bim
JVord^ he would fend me down a Cow alinje the next
Day^ and the Blacks fhould kill and fait it for me^
to keep it in the Boat as a Store ^ &c.

I accepted of his Offer, which I found was the
beft Way to ingratiate myfelf into his Favour,
fbr you can^t affi-ont theni worfe than to refufS
their Offers ; and I made the lels Scruple, becaufe
I really wanted the Tallow, and the Beef was far
from being an unneceflary Prefent ^ and accord-^
ingly I had one of the fatteft Cows hcJ had, fent
down, which, in the Cool of the Evenings was
kiird • out of which I had five or fix Pounds of
Tallow, and the Beef, which was good fpending
Meat, we faked, firft cutting out all the Bones,
except the Ribs, the better to keep it from taint-
ing, and dryM it in the Sun,

[ 28? ]

The Boat being now dry and fhrunk enough, 1
"Went to work, and caulk'd her as weJl as I could,
and had as many Blacks as I could truft to help ;
there being always enow of them down every
Day, to catch as much Fiih as we could tell what
to do with, ^nd every one that came down always
brought fbmething with him, as Pompion^ Water-
Melon, Banana's, Ears of Indian Gorn, and
Cufculs, which is Indian Corn firft pounded, and ^
then boil'd 6ver the Steam of frefh Water, till it
becomes a Mafi like boil'd Pudding, and theti it's
cut or broke in Pieces, and dry'd in the Sun, and
if well dry'd will keep fbme Months ^ fbmething
refembling a Sort of Bread (but much coarfer^
hiade in the Mediterranean Sea for Seafaring Per-
ions, as our Sea Bisket is in England y fb that lay-
ing by what we could not eat, I had a Stock, by
the Time the Boat was fit to turn into the Water^
that a Man might, if the Veflel would have per-
formed its Part, make ihift v/ith for as great a Run
as Barbadoes,

After I had caulk'd all, I got fome Afs^s Dung^ •
and burn'd it to black Alhes, and while it was
yet a-fire, I put a Quantity into a wooden Thing
like a Mortar, which they have there for pound-
ing their Maiz, ^c. and on that I put a liifficienc
Qiiantity of Tallow, and made one of the Blacks
pound it with a wooden Pcftlc, till it was well in-
corporated, and then it would look as black and
Ihining as Jet, till it ftiffen d by coolinp; and {land-
ing ; which again might be made fbft as Putty,
by beating well in a Mortar.

The Sei*vice that this black Aflies of Afs*s Dung «
did, was this, that after T had laid it on the
Seams, and rubb'd it in well with my Fingers by
drawing it along the Seam, it would, in a little
Time, fb harden, that the Sun^ for all his Heat
there, did not melt it, neither would it wafti off

[ ipo ]

again with the V/ater ; befides another Service, a^
great as any^ it did me, tho' I did not know any
thing of it then, which was, that it kept the Fim
from eating it off the Veflel ; which I came t(3
find out thus, After we had launched the Boat,
the Tallow, Ibme how or other, was rubb'd out
of a Seam, a little below the Water's Edge,
which, by heeling her, I brought out of the Wa-
ter, and put fome clean Tallow in the Seam 9 but
in lefs than half a Day, they eat all that unmin-
gled Tallow as clean 6fl^ as if there never had
been any laid there, while they never touched that .
which I had mix'd with the Alhes.

After I had as well caulk'd my Frigate as I
cou'd, and paid all the Seam's Rents, ^c. with
Tallow and Afi's Dung Aihes, which reach'd no
higher than the Ballaft Mark, I got her launched 5
and after 24 Hours fwelling in the Water, fhe was
tolerable tight, infbmuch, that Morning and Even-
ing was ftifficient to bale her. ^

Having ballafted her, and fitted every Thing
ready, I waited now only for a moderate light
Gale to beat round ; and at length I obtained my
Wifh, and getting every thing on Board, fet fail
with no lefs than fixteen Blacks, and more would
fain have accompany 'd me j but I was fadly
puzzled with my raw Mariners, none of them
knowing how to bear out the Forefail, to help her
to flay, nor well hov/ to row with a Lee Oar to
call her about , fo that every Time I had a Mind
to put about, I was forc'd to veer, which loft a
great deal of Ground 4 befides, we were much
too light, not having Ballaft enough in ; fo that
by the Time the \Vindward Current was done,
we had not got above a League to Windward of
Ferrier^ and were half a League, or fbmething
left, to Leeward of a little Cove, where I had
defign'd to have ftopp'd for the next Day's Flood,

if

C ^9* ]

if I could have reach'd it^ but perceiving it was
in vain to attempt it after the Windward Current
was done, I was a little concerned at it ; but yet
was not a little proud that I had gained thus tar,
and could make fure of where I came from,
with the Pleafiire of running back again before
the Wind.

They did not perceive our lofing Ground fb
ibon as I did, and would not be perlwaded of it,
nor of the Difedvantage of a Lee Tide s and
were very certain, they laid, that I could get to
the Cove well enough.

I was willing to humour them, who had fb
often run the Rifque of their Lives to ferve me,
knowing that we had Time enough to get into
Ferrier^ and moor before Night, and could run
no Hazard of being driven to Leeward of it,
before it would be evident to them that we loft
Ground upon the Lee Tide ; and therefore I
made a Couple of Trips off and on, till they faw
themfelves that welolt confiderable every Trip,
and then they freely confented to bear away ^
which we did, and anchored and moor'd where
we did brfbre in the Terrier.

We were met there by feveral Blacks, who had
kept on the Hills to fee the Boat work, wh© faid '
fhe went bravely, like a Fowl flying for Swift-
nefi.

1 took in fbme more Ballaft the next Day, and
flaid two or three Days ; and having a fit Oppor-
tunity to my Mind, both for Tide and moderate
Weather, I beat up, and mjr Mariners being fbme-
thing more handy than at nrft, fb that they could
help to ftay her with a Lee Oar, we got, by the
Time that it was high Water, under the Leeward-
moft of the little Illands, where I ftopp'd till the
next Morning ; and taking the Advantage of a
Windward Tide, I made two or three fmall

[ ipi 3

Trips under the Iflands, till we got a-breaft of the
Windward of moft of them, which I did (the
Weather being moderate) more to exerciie and
divert my Mariners, than any Neceffity ; for the
Wind being far Northerly, as it moftly is there,
when it's fine Weather, I could have weathered
the Point of Gbuylungo^ which is the Weathermoft
Point of St. Johns^ with one Trip.

Having got the Length of the Weathermoft
of the little Iflands, 1 bore away afore the Wind
for the Fuurno^ and arriving there, was welcomed,
with abundance of Joy, by the Blacks, who had
all the Day, with inexpreflible Pleafure and Satis-
fadion, been on the Rocks, feeing us under Sail
from our weighing, till we got in.

I moor'd there > and being now iecure, I went
up to Town to take my final Leave, as I then
diought, of the Inhabitants, and. to thank them
for all their Kindnefs to me ; who all contributed
to fupply me with Provifions, ^c. for the Voyage^
with the fame Good-Nature and Chearfulnefs,
which I. had experienced fb fully on many Occa*
fion, and ftor'd me with Pompion, Fefhoon, Maiz,
and every Thing elle that the Ifland afforded, in
great Plenty.

Having pals'd four or five Days among them, I
prepared for my Voyage to St. Philip's^ where I
was in Hopes to have found an Opportunity of
getting a Paffage off, fooner than from St. Johns
Ifland ^ but when I was ready, to my great Sur-
prize, Mr. Franklin would not go with me 3 and
gave me fuch Reafons for his Refufal, as I was
forc'd to acquiefce with.

I took my little Boy on Board with me, who,
till. then, had been up at Town, neither had he
been down v^ith me all the Time that I was build-
ing the Boat, being too young to do me much
Service on that Occafion.

When

[ m 3

When he came dowri, the Blacks ask'd him.
How be lik^d the Boat ?

The Boy cry'd, and faid. He did not like her
at all 'y but kmw his Mafle^^ouldhave a better
when he came home.

They askM him. If he would ftay with them till
his Mafter came hack with a better Ship to fetch
him P

To which the Child laid. If his Mafier would
fay thai he' would have him fiay^ and would pro^
mife to fetch him away foon^ he would ftay^ but
otherways would not.

The Blacks having told me this, I ask'd the
Boy, to try him. If be had a^ Mnd to live on the
Ifland ? He laid, Nb, if I would pleafe to carry
.him with me ^ // not^ be muft flay till fome Ship
came. Why tben^ lays I, you wofit live here all
your Life. No^ feid the Boy, // / can any ways
getaway. IVhy^ laid I, you told the Blacks you
mjas willing to ftay if I would let you. He faid^
He only faid fo for fear of them.' So I told him.
He Jhould not ftay without he had a Mind : And
having every Thing ready, and my Mariners,
which were the two I brought from the Ifland of
St. Nicholas^ and he that came from St. Nicholas
in the Portuguefcj and l\vam away from her here,
with three more of the Iflanders, I unmoor'd,
and laird from the Fuurno about two Hours be-
fore Day, taking the firft of the Northern Stream,
and chofe the Morning Tide, in order to get
crols the Channel before the Day Gale fet in
ftrong, which Ibmetimes, as I hinted before, blows
in violent Flaws down the Ghors ; and that I
might get into St. Philip's time enough in the Day
to find a Harbour, or convenient P%e to anchor
at, being myfelf a perfedt Stranger to that Ifland j
and being able to make no Reliance on Ntcbolau
Verd^ who was with me, the' he iavi tWx. \nr ^^

C ^94 3

well acquainted with ^11 the Anchoring-PJaces, as
well as Landing-Places, which on that Ifland are
jxot many, having been deceived by him before
in finding the Fuuf'no^ of which he w:as very po-
litiye, which was the Occafion of my being ftiip-
wreck'd on that Ifland.

We got in to Windward of the Villa^ and run
down till we came to Fonte de Villa^ which is a
fandy Bay ; but the Wind being pretty far Nor-
therly, which is an open Wind there, I would
not anchor, altho' my Pilot Verd affur'd me that
was the Road ^ but I was relblv'd to run till I
could bring the Land to Windward, knowing
that if the w^orfl caijae, if I could not find a Place
to fecure the Boat, I could run her under the
Lee of the Ifland to the Rocks, and lave our
Lives ; which, had I anchored at Fonte de Villa j
' the SurfF run fb high, that it would be very ha-
zardous to efFeft, elpecially as neither the Boy nor
I could fwim.

I run down along Shore, and could fee a great;
Concourfe of People on the Tops of the Clifts ;
and after I doubled the Point of NoJ[fa Singora^ I
came into fmoother Water, and much lefs Wind,
which then blew to Windward, and in the Offing
very hard.

This was alfo a fandy Bay, and the Point broke;
off both Wind and Sea, yet there run a great
iSurff on the Shore ; however, I haled in, and
anchor d in fix Fathom Water, a little to the
Korthward of the Church of NoJfaSingora^ which
appears fomething lil^o^ a Barn ; the Outfide c£
tlie Walls were feemingjy as white as if they had
been but juft: white-wafli'd, and the Roof was
cover'd with red Pantiles, as are alfb fbme of the
Houfes of the Vilk. ' ^ - . •

As

C ^95 ]

As fbon as I came to an Anchor, one of my
Black Mariners Iwam afliore, to give an Account
who we were ; and ir\ about half an Hour after,
two Blacks of the Iflanders fwam off, and brought
me a Compliment from Singore Capitecn ^bome
Santee, or a Water-Melon. That Sirgore was
right aftiore with the Horfe of the Ifland j for
*our coming had alarm'd them, and the Governor,
who was a Portuguefe^ and formerly had been
Governor (or, as they call him. Captain More)
of a Fort or Faftory belonging to the King of
Portugal^ on the Coaft of Guinea^ upon their dif-
coveriDg us bearing towards the Ifland, ordered
all the Inhabitants to arm themftlves with fuch
Weapons as they had, to oppofe me if I had been
an Enemy, or come to rob them ; they having a
ftrong Averfion to Pirates, ever fince they were
plundered by one, ,as they relate, about thirty
Years ago. ^home Santee was Commandant of
the Horfe, and was ordered by the Goverrior to
march along the Clifts as far as Noffa Singcra to
defend the Coaft, in Cafe I (hould attempt to .
land, before they were latisfy'd what I was.

The two Men who fwam off, told me, ^h^it
Singore Thome bid tbem tell rac^ that if I fail'd
. down a little loisoer^ there was a little Bay called
Laghate, where J might put the Boat to the Beach^
and wade ajljorc^ the Sea being "very fmootb^ and
little or no Surff nmning there on the Shore ; and
that Singore Thome had fent them to go with mCj
andjbew me the Bay.

So we weighed, and away we went ; and came
down to the Bay, which was a little Sandy one,
with a little Point of Rocks to Windward, which
made it very finooth, the Trade very feldom
reaching down fo far ; it being moftly calm, ex-
cept from about 4 P. M. tho' fbmetimes^ Iboner,
^nd Ibmetimes later, which then would blow i

U 4 *i\\xjx

I 196']

feint Southerly or South-Weft Breefe till fix or
fcven at Night, and then fall calm till about one
or two in the Morning, and then would blow a
light Breefe, or Air of Southerly Wind ; tho*
none of thefe Breeies made any thing the more
Swell or SurfF on the Shore, which, until I knew*,
I was afraid it w^ould 5 for at the firft coming of
the Evening Breefes, the Surface of the Water •
apfpe^irs as if there was a ftrong Gale of Wind
coming ^ and at the firft is pretty frefh, but comes
but like a PulF; for by the Time the VefTel isi
winded to it, it's over ; and then, as I laid before,
it continues a faint languid Gale, till it dies or
dwindles away at laft to a Calm.

By the 1 im6 I had got down and moor'd,
which I did by laying my Anchor off, and a Rope
faft to a great Stone afhore, ttie Southerly Breefe
began to come on, which you might dilcern by
the Change of the Colour of the Surface of the •
Water, a pretty Space before it came ; and then
coming fo fmart at firft, made me not a little fear-
ful of losing my Boat, which I was not willing
to do, till I knew whether there w^as any more
Hopes of getting off this Illand focncr than St.
Jehus 3 and likewiie how I fhould be received
and entertained here ^ for my Defign was, if I
law or heard of no more Likelihood of a Ship
coming here, than to the Ifland of St. Johns^
and elpecialJy if I did not find fo good Reception
and Entertainment, to have returned back again
to the Ifland of St. Johns -^ wliich was what I
was deCr'd to do, and accordingly promised to
the Governor, and all the People of the Ifland of
St. Johns,

1 here were feveral of the Blacks came down to
this little Bay : They call'd to me, and would fain
have had me come afhore- but I told them I
would pot till the Morning. One or two of them

came off to us, and told me, ^hat Singore Cap-
tain Thome San tee expelled me up to uowit^ and
they helievd^ they laid, he had fent the Governor
IVord fo^ and waited at Nofla Singora to conduli
me to ^own.

«

I ask'd them, If hat Sort of People the I/landers
were ? and, IVhether the Road from where we lay
to ^own was good ?

They laid, i'he People were n)ery kind to StrM^
gers ^ that I Jhould have the Coverfation of Bran-
ca^s, as I was^ &c. aAd that the Road to Town was
indifferent to pafs at low Water ^ hut a little dange-'
rous in one Place^ hecaufe of the Stones tumbling
down ; hut at high Water there was no paffing^ by
Reafon that the Rocks were fo fieep.
. I ask'd, How it came that they were not afraid to
come along ?

They faid, T'hat they took their Chance ; and
that it was but feldom the Stones tumbled dowHy
except in the rainy Seafons. They would fain have
perfuaded me to go afliore, and lie there the
Night, where they laid they had ^^good Fire and
Viftuals 5 but I told them, Iwould JlUy on Board
to fee how it would he^ and was afraid of the Wind
which blew almoft right on the Shore^ and hoped it
would not blow fo hard to raife the Sea^ or put th0
Boat ajhore.

They faid, / need not fear that now^ for that
thefe Winds 7tever held long • and gave me a De-
fcription of them, as I have above related, as
nigh as they could.

Next Morning I went aftiore, and while I wait-
ed for their roafting Ibme Pompion, ^c. for my
Breakfaft, came Captain i'home Santee^ accompa-
nyM with fome others of the Gr^nd Singores of
the Ifland, and among them the '-^crivan of the
Singore Capiteen More^ in order to compliment me
from his Malter^ with the Ofiet o£ Vvvs^oxjSa^^w^

C Z98 ]

all the good Offices which was In his Power to
ferve me in.

I thank'd him, and waited on him firft when I
came to Town, who received me very civilly, and
from thence Captain f borne took me to his Houfe ;
and after that I vifited fbpie of the reft of the
Grandees of the Town, and at Night lay at Cap-
tain S'bofne% who told me, fbat be was Pate-?
toon, or J as they alfb call'd it, Procurador, of tbe
Jfland of St, John, but bad not been tbere a long
itime : S'bat it was be tbat made Leuonel Gonfalvo
Governor of St. John ; and tbat if I wanted any
thing to he done to my Boaty tbere wer^ two Blacks^
Nati'ves of Senegal, wbg were font by tbe French
Factory tbere to France, to learn tbe Art of Ship^
iuildingy and were put ajhore bere by tbe Pirates^
who bad taken tbem on Board of 4 Fipench Ship
th^t was carrying them firom France to tbe FaSiory.

I defir'd to fee them, and they were immei^i-
itely called ; and, when come, I ask'd them,
JVbat Countrymen tbey were ? They faid, ^hey
were of Guinea, and tbat one was born at Senegal,
tbe otber near Gambio-River, in tbe Kingdom of
Barrah ^ and tbat from tbeir Childhood they had
been brought up at tbe French Fa£iory at Senegal,
and were fent by tbem to France to learn the Car*
penters Art : ^bat tbey bad been fomething above.
five Tears in France, at a City called Nants, and
bad learned fo well in that ^ime^ that they were
capable to build a Boat^ or fmall Sloops without any
bodys inftruSling or dire£lng them.

I ask'd them. If they were willing to go to their
own Country ? or, Whether they would rather ftay
where tbey now were P They fmil'd, and laid,
S'bey would give all tbe JVorld^ if they were Majiers
of it J to be in tbeir own Country again.

Iask'4

I a^kM them. Whether they thougfit they could
fit or improve my Boat fo far^ as to be capable to go
to Guinea ? and if they could^ I would carry them
to their own Country.

They figh'd, and laid, ^hey could not tell ^
they hadjeen my Boat^ they laid, when She pafii
hy the uown the Day before j and {be looked n)ery
well ; but they believed I was the beft Judge wbe^
ther Jhe was capable or not.

I told them, / knew fhe was not capable of going
there asjh^ was now ; but did not know but with
their j4£iftan^e I might improve her fo^ as to be able
to go there : ^ hat Jhe was big enough^ and was aU
moji balf-dec/td over ^ and that with their yiffiftance
and Contrivance we might perhaps deck her all over ;
but the chief Thing Jhe wanted^was the ftrengtbeHing
and binding her.

I then told them the Dimenfions of her in
Length, Breadth, and Depth ; who anlwerM rac,
Cfor they had a perfect Idea or our Foot Mealure)
S'hat the Frenqh Fa£lory at Senegal had feveral
Sloops that went a trading up the Kiver^ and alfa,
into Gambio River, lefs than my Boat^ as I called
i?er^ tho\ they laid, tl^y thought Jhe merited th&
Name of a Sloop.

Captain Thome ask'd them. If they would go (yver
with me to St. John'j, where there was. Wood
enough^ and every thing elfe^ in more Plenty than
there ?'

They laid, They were Strangers here^ and could
chufe nothing themf^lves ^ but were at the Difpofal
of the Governor at prefent^ and hpped^ out of Ke^
fpe£i to the French Nation^ to whom they belong'dy
he would not only ufe them well^ as he had done ever
Jbtce their being on this IJland^ but would^ as he
had often promis d, make ufe of the firjl Opportunity
that with Safety oferd^ to fend them to the French
faSlorjy of Senegal, whereto tbey ^ro^crlj l?e\oYi^d. -^

If // 7to fuch opportunity offer d^ to fend them ^
any other Part of Guinea, from which they could
with Safety travel thither ; fuch Parts were Gam-
bio, Rio Graude, Cacheu, or Sierra Leon, and
they did not in the leafi douht^ hut the French
Faiiory would make him a fuitable SatisfaSlion for
fo doing y and if at any ^ime^ *any belonging to the
Portuguefe fhould be under the Circumftances that
they at prefent were^ they did not doubt but the
French would ufe them with the fame Civility which
they had hitherto found here^ and ufe Means to have
tbem fent to where they belong d.

Captain Thome faid, He did not by any means
fropofe their going with me to be by the Way of
Conftraint^ or without the Governor s Leave^ but a^
a Thing that might be to their Advantage ^ for if
they could make the Captains Boat fit to go to
Guinea, it would be a fufficient Reward^ he thought^
for their Pains^ to be put on their own Country
again.

They laid. So it would^ and more ^ but that they
thought was impoffible.

I told them, ^he only JVuy to be certain^ was to
go and fee the Boat • or ifHhey would go with me
to the Ijland of St. John, and if when they came
therCy they found that they could not have Conve-
niencies to do as we eocpeSied^ or proposed to our^
felvesj that I would engage myfelf to bring them
back to the Ifland of St. Philip again.

They faid, ^hey were willing to do me all the
Service they couldy but they had not any ^oolsy ex^
cepting one Hatchet.

I told them, Ihad^ or could get ^ all the Tools
that were made Ufe of in the building her.

Buty feid they, where will you get Spikes and
Nails ?

I told

t 3^» 3

I told them, / had none ^ hut I bad fme old

Iron left*

Captain ^bome laid, fbere was a Smitbj who
could make Nails^ be helien^ed^ and be could pre^^
njail with him to go over to St. John'j, and would
go bimfelfalfo^ if 1 would be fure to bring bint back
Mtain s for that be bad a great Mind to go to St.
john'^, to take an Account of what Goat Skins
Leuonel Gonlblvo, the Governor^ badfaved.

I told him. I would -y fb asking the Blacks agmn,
they {aid, Ybat as Captain Thome dejired it^ and
was alfo refolded to go bimfelfy they only defired^
that be J or /, would acquaint the Governor of ity
which ^ if be approved of^ they would accordingly.^

Captain 3*bome zxA I hereupon went to the
Governor, and acquainted him with what the
Guinea Blacks had faid, as alfb with Captain
S'home^s Defign to get the Smith to go, as like-
wife of his own Refolution ^ which the Governor
would fain have perfiiaded him from, for fear of
any unforefeen Accident which might happen,
£o as not to be able to get back 9 but Captain
S'bome was fixed in his Refolution, and at lafl^
the Governor confente4f

The next Thing Wfe had to do, was to per-
fuade the Smith, which he efFedually did 3 and
then asked me, IVbetber I wanted any thing that
the I/land afforded ?

I told him, ihe chief STbing I wanted was
Sails.

He laid. He had nothing hut Gotten Cloths^ and
if they would do me any Goody be would give me
fome ^ I told him, ^bey would y fb he gave me
Three White Cotton Cloths 9 and he alfb gave
me an old rufty Half-Inch Auger, and a Imall
Gage, which, he faid, had been given him by a
Frotcb Captain of a Vcflel, which had been a
trading Ibme Years fince at this Ifland for Mvil^-

Next Thing we had to do^ was to get Provi-
fions on Board for the Voyage, which was done
in a plentiful Manner, fuch as the Ifland afibrded ;
there were feveral of the Iflanders came to me to
ask Leave to go with me, after they heard Cap-
tain S'bome was going y and, not caring to difo^
bligfe any of them, 1 turned them over to Cap-
tain f borne J faying, fbat I left; all to bim j and
likewife told him, Stbat it would not he convenient
to carry many.

He faid. He would ba<ve me do as I pi e a fed ^ be
would not advife me to carry one^ if I did not ap^
prove of it.

I told him. If any of bis^ or tbc Governor s
Friends bad a Mind to go^ not exceeding lo or 12,
I could carry tbem without any great Inconvenience.
■" He faid. He bad no Friend that be would ask
tbat Favour for ^ hut one^ and did not defign that it
Jbould he gratis neither^ for be would make me what
Retaliation be could^ in any thing the I/land of St.
Philip afforded^ and would alfo oblige tbem in St.
John'5, to afjift me in every thing which that I/land
afforded^ that would he ferviceable to me^ he heingy
as he told me before, Pataroon or Procurador of
that Ifland ; and for any-hody elfe that bad a Mind to
go^ and I thought fit to carry ^ as I wanted SailSy
and that Cotton Cloths would he ufeful to me^ be
would have me make every one that went^ pay one
or two Cloths for their Pajfage.

I told him, / would leave all that to bis Ma*
nagement

He feid. He would take it upon him ^ which ac-
cordingly he did, and when we had got all rea-
dy, and on Board, I weighed from Laghate^
about an Hour, or better, before the Northern
Tide was made, and having the Advantage of the
Southern Breeze, which lafted us up to die Point
of Nojfa Singore j which, what with our Sails,

and

C 30; 3

and what with our Oars;^ we arrived at, by the

Time the Flood fet up to the Northward;

and then, aft;pr we had opened the Point of

Nojfa Singore^ we met the Trade-Winc^^, and

making Two or Three Boards, got the Lengdi

of Ballcavilier a good while before the Tide was

done ; but foaring, the Tide being well Ipent,

and the Wind being far Northerly, that I flK>uld

not fetch the Fmtrno on a Lee Tide, I anchored

there, and ftaid to take a whole Flood to crofi

the Channel ; and the Tide ferving before Dav,

I weighed from dience about Three or Four of tne

Clock in the Morning^ and got into the Fuurno

of St. Jobn% a little mer Noon that Day, to die

great Satis^i&ion, as well of my Faflengers, as

of the Iflanders of St. John ^ but e^ecially my

black Marriners who accompanied me the Voyage,

and did not &il to brag of it, more than perhaps

a raw Sailer would of his firft Voyage to the Eaji^

Indies.

I confuked my Guinea Carpenters, and (hewed
them what I would have done, wz. So lay a
Piece of l*imher along the Joyning of the upper
timber to the Floor itimbery fore and aft^ /piked
and trunnelled down through the S'mher and Out*
fide Planky which^ I tolathem, would be a mighty
Strengthening to her ^ which they agreed to.

Then I told them, / would have the Fore-Caftle
raifed even with the Gunnel^ and 3wo Planks
Breadth run from that aft^ to the Quarter Deck on
both Sidesy with a narrow thick Board fet an Edge
in the Nature of Coamings ^ that if any Water fhould
come over our Gunnel on our narrow Decky that
thefe Coamings might prevent its going down in the
Hold I and Itkewife to trunnel the Outfide Plank to
the timber y as much as we thought convenient s AH
which they agreed to as very requifite.

^Vt-

The St. Philip's Smith promifed to make Nails,
and the old Ferrier, whom I often before men-
tioned, undertook to make as much Charcoal, as
we fliould want, and likewife to affift the new
Smith all he was able.

I told Captain S'home Santee^'^bat if I baled
my Boat up, dry^ as I mufi^ if I did any thing to
her J that Jhe would want caulking all over^ and
CMfequently Cotton (though I h^ faved all the
i^are Pieces of Rope that I could, and had more
than enough to make Oakum jfiifficient for once
caulking ; but I thought it beft to keep a Store as
long as I could, for feai* I might want when I
ihould not have iuch an Opportunity tp get it)
and likewife Sallow to lay on the Sea^ns^ or if I had
enough J it would do much better to lay it all o'ver
her Bottom.

He faid. He would take care and order Leuonel
Gonfelvo to kill feme wild Goats.

I told him, ^hat the wild Goats would not
yield any fallow ; and that if the Gonjernor had not
killed ^wo Cows for me^ Ifhould have been forced
to go to Sea without fallow.

He faid. If I had told him any thing of that
while be was at St. Philip' j, he would have ordered
^hree or Four Cows to he killed for me ^ hut^ bow^
ever^ faid he, // there he any Cows in St. JohnV,
you Jh all not want fallow.

I told him, fhcre were Cows enough ^ U^'ell^ laid
he, then youfhall ha^ve fallow enough.

So Word being feiit up for all Hands to come
down to hale the Boat up, accordingly they came,
and we haled her about her I.en^th above the
flowing of a Spring Tide , and then Captain
Shome^ and the reft, went to Town to divert them-
felves till the Boat was got ready.

I ©it

i got for Freight of ftiy Paflehgers that I
brought from St. Philip' s^y Teh Cotton Cloths, '
'which made me a gckxi Fbre-S^il, ahd repaired
my Jibb , of fome that was leftj I made a Pair of
Trouzers for myfelf^ and a Jacket and Trouzers
for my little Boy. My old Catpenterj came and
proflfered their Service to me to cut Boards, and
bring them down, or what other Timber wc
wanted ; which they did, the Country all the
Time fupplying us with Food daily : befides,
Capt. ^botne fent down in the Interim Two Cows,
and promifed a Third for the Voyage ; and if
that would not yield Tallow enough, he would ^
tidex the Governor to kill fbme wild Goats. ^

We finiftied our Bufmeis in about Two Months,
or a little more, having caulked her, and payed her
Bottom with Tallow, and having got every thing in
a Readineis for failing ^ and propofing to go firft to
St Jago^ after I had put Captain U'bome^ and the
St.Pbilippians there, afliOre, and not being re-
Iblved to go to Guinea^ and loth to take the Two
black Carpenters from where they were G> well
ufed and entertained, to run the Chance of my
uncertain Fortune, I thought it was juft to leave
them where I found them, till they fhould light
of an Oppertunity to go to their own Country ;
but told them, X^^^ '^^^^^ I arrived at^ St. Jago,
if I did not meet with an Oppoftunity of aSbip^ and
that I found the Boat fufficienty I knew nothing
to the contrary^ but I might go in htr to Guinea, //
/ met with any Profpe£i there j or at St, Philip' j, or
at both ; and if /&, IJhould not fail to carry them ;
hut if I did^ I laid, IJhould not go to Senegal, be-
caufe the French allow no Englifli to trade there ^
but if J went^ it Jbould be either to Gambio, Rio
Grande, Cacheu, or fome of the BJvers between
that and Sierra l^Mfa.

C io6 ]

They laid, ^hey ^would as lieve be carried to
Gambio, as to Senegal ; And^ fiid he that was
borne there, // you carry me there^ I will engage
ycu a good lufiy Starve ^ but if you go to any of the
ether Places^ I cannot ; hut will do you all the Ser^
'vice on the trading Account that I can^ &c.

Every thing being ready, and on Board, wc
failed from the Fuurno^ and arriving at St. Pbilip\
I put all afliore that were to go afliore there, and
Haying Three Days in tliat Ifland, I ftocked my-
feli with Provifions and Water ; after which I
failed, and in about Ten Days Time, I beat ifl>
to St. Jago, and, had I not been acquainted wim
the Set of the Current, I might have beat till
now, before I had got up to it in that Boat ; I
fetched a Bay at St. Jago^ called, BJvero des
Bharkasj where I anchorea ^ but finding that there
were no Ships there, and had not been for fome
Months, except one Oflend India Ship, called ty
the Inhabitants, Nau India des Imperio j and find-
ing there was a great Scarcity of Salt at St. yago^
I concluded to go to the. Ifle of Alay and take in
Salt i for I was near half full with Pompion,
Maiz, &c. and the St. Jago Men told me, I'bat
they miderjlood^ that the Ijle of May was almofi
famtJJjed for the Want of Sujienance^ as they bad
had a Scarcity^ more or lefs^ for^ aho^ve Fifteen w
Siocteen Tearsy depending wholly on the Ships that
load Salt there^ for Subfiftance.

I asked them. How they beard that there was
fuch a Scarcity at the Ifle of May ?

They faid, ^h at all the Salt Ships which hoi
touched this Tear there for Water ^ had given them
an Account of it.

I asked them, Whether there bad many Salt Ships
touched here this Tear ?

They faid, Not above ithree or Four that tbej
heard of

I re-

i recruited my Water, and conclu<ied to go
llbout the North End oif St. JagOy as being the
beft Way to gain the Ifle ot May^ though I do
hot queftion, but 'tis the Opinion of many, that
they can fdoner beat up the other Way • but I
iiflure them, when they have experienced it, they
will be of my Opinion.

We had a good Parcel of Mandyokes given to
iis by the Country People at Ki'vero des Bbarcos^
where I lay Two Nights, and then weighed and
anchored in the Bay of Kivero de Prata^ and ftopp'd
during a Lee Tide there, and tlie next windward
Tide, we g<Jt to Porto ^erra^fall^ where I lay Thir-
teen Days, the Wind blowing fo ftrong, that I
tvas afiraid to ventul^e my Sails ; for I found my
Boat was more able to encounter the Sea^ than
toy Sails ^ete the Wind.

Fine Weather prefenting, I weighed froifi iirra-^
fallviith a windward Tide, and beat that Tide to
Windward of Porto Factenda about Haifa League ;
but finding when the Lee Tide was made, that
I loft Ground, and not feeing, or knowing any
ftcure Place . to anchor at j that I could fetch, t
bore awdiy for Porto Facienda^ where I anchored
that Night.

Next Day Tide^ I weighed, but could not get
ftbout the Ifland that Tide ^ neither cduld I find
iny Place to venture to anchor at, to ftop the
Tide y and being loth to bear down to Porto Faci-
inda^ I relblved to keep the Sea all Night, which
I did, my Mariners being become vety expert.

Next Morning the Lee Tides had hurried
ine far to Leeward^ arid it blowing frcfli all
Night, made a chopping Sea fet about the Noitiht
yoint of the Ifland, inlbmuch, that I could not
fetch Porto FaciendUy from whence I came the Day-
before^ ^nd it was as much as ever I coutld Ad

to fetch Jhra-fall Road, where T lay Two or
Three Days, and fine Weather prelentinff, I
weighed, and flopped again the I^e Ticfe at
Porto Facienda, and the next Mornii^ Tide^ I
beat the Tide an End ; but was iadJy puzzled
then, to find a Place to ftop the Lee Tide, with-
out which, I found it was impoflible for mc
to get round the Ifland with my dull-fwift Fri-
gat.

It was Day-light, and moderate Weather, and
I iaw a little Bay under my Lee-bow, which
feemed to me to be a landy or (hingly Beach,
into which I relblved to run, as long as I faw any
Prolped of Safety, the Water being clear enough
to difcem any thing before it hurt me, and my
Boat drawing about Four Foot Water, or a little
more ; and if the worft came to the worft, and it
would not do, F could but run off again.

Right againft the Bay, were a great many
Rocks, fbme larger, fome finaller, the largeft of
them not above a good Stone-s Caft in Length,
and moft of them above Water, extending about
Haifa League off from the Shore : I run in, and
keeping a good Look-out, luffing for one, and
bearing away for another ^ till at laft, I got lafe
in, though with taking a great deal of Care ; for
without that, it would have been very dangerous :
However, after we were in, it made us Amends
for our Trouble in finding it, for there was a fafe
and plealant Cove run in behind the Point, about
a good Cable's Length wide from which, you
could fee no Sea, but was, Land-locked for all
Winds, and from Five to Three Fathom Water,
a Sort of a Sand and Ooze mix'd.

I had not been above an Hour, or thereabouts,

. at an Anchor, when Two Blacks came down to

the Water-fide, and called to us, and asked,

/rbere

fc

* • ,■

r w 3

Habere we came frtmi ? and what Countrymen we
were ?

We told them, IVe catne from Porto Faciendo
laft i and that Jhe was an Englifli VeJfcL

O, they iaid, that was well enough^ they bad
heard of us^ how that we had been there^ and at
Porto Terra-fall : We told them, // was fo ^ and
they went away again.

In a little Time came down an elderly Man^
with Four Slaves armed with Lances, attending
him J he very courteoufly asked me to come aftiore :
I told him, / was a little bufy as yet^ and bad not
well ficured my Vejfel ^ but would wait on him as
foon as T could ; and asked him. If be pleafed to
accept of a Ifater Melon to refrejb him in the mean
^ime ?

He thanked me^ and bid me heave it into the
Water, and he Vould fend one of Jiis Slaves to
luring it afliore j which I did, and Two of the
Lance*men fwam off and carried it afhore to their
Mafter, who iat under the Clift of a Rock in the
Shade, for the Sun (hone very hot ^ for though
it was a frefti Gaje in the Offing, yet in the Cove,
we had not a Breath of Wind, fave now and then
a light Air would come down thro' the Valley.

The grave Gentleman fpread his Cloak, and
cut the Water Melon, laying it in as great Order,
as if it had been a Perfon of Quality's Table fet
with the greateft Varieties ; he called Two of his
Attendants to him, and, I iuppofe, gave them
Orders what they ibould do : I could not hear,
but I few the Two Slayes make their Mafter a
very reverent Bow, and went away. *

I did not care much for trufting myfelf afhore
with him at firft ; for that Part of St. Jago confiftj
moftly of Banditti, who frequently fly thither
from Juftice, and fbmetimes make Incurfions
jEunong ths more civiiiz'd Parts of the Ifland^

X 3 \i\\t::^^

where, if they are catched, they (ufifer ; but if they
cfcape thither, they are lecure ; for no Officer of
Juftice dare follow them there, they afluming a
rrivilege to themfelves to oppofe Juftice, even in
cafe of Murder : But after he fb kindly accepted
my Prefent, which) with thofe People, is moftly
efteemed as a Token, or Tye of Friendlhip, I
ventured aihore.

As fbon as, he ftw me coming, he got up and
came to meet me, with his Two Attendants who
remained with him, armed widi their lances, and
one of them with a Cutlafli, which T had not ob-
ferved before^ he hinifelf having no other Arms,
that I faw, but a long lharp-:pointed Knife, the
Blade about Two Foot long, with a Brals caft
Handle, which he wore like a Bayonet.

He received me with Abundance of ceremonious,
Formality, and welcomed me afhore, asking feve-
ral Queftions, As, IVhat Country ? From whence I
came P IVhetber I was goings &c. ? to all which,
I gave him an Account ^ and he told me, without
asking, as is ufual with them C^fpecially if they
arc in any Poft of Credit) I'bat he was the Juftice
of thefe Parts ; that all that Land as far as I
could fes^ was his Eft ate j that he bad large Silver
Mines on his Ground^ hut did not know how to extraCi
the Silver out. of the Oar^ and was afraid to fend ta
the City for a Silver^Smitbj for fear it Jhouldy by
that Means ^ he difcovered to the King of Portugal^
who would not fail^ as fbon as he came to know it^
to fend an Army andfeize it to bis own Ufe^ and^
perhaps^ might he a Means of making them lof$
their PfivUeges bere^ whith had been preferved ever
fmce the Iftand of St. Jago was inhabited : He iaid
moreover, St hat be would fend up on^ of bis Slaves
tc fetch mefome of the Silver Oar.

Wby,

Wby^ laid I, is it fo nigh ? He iiiid. It was not
far off; it was in Sight ; and pointing to a Moun-
tain, faid, // was on the Side of that.

I told him, I would, if he pleafed^ take a IValk
up to it.

He faid. It was too late^ and was an ugly Way^
hut one of his SUiroes could foon go^ and he hack
again^ with fome of it tofhew me, and on the mor"
row, if I thought fit to go, be would go with me,
and Ifhould have a Horje to ride on, as far as the
Horfe could go. •

By this Time the Two Slaves which he had lent
away, came back, and brought a large Calabaih
of Milk, and a fine young full-grown Goat, and
very fat, which he prefented me with ; I received
it with Thanks, and told him, / was forry I had
nothing on Board worth prefenting him with, in Rm-*
turn of his Kindnefs.

He told me, / had done that already ftifficiently ;
for he took Jo much SatisfaSiim in the Honour I did
him, hy giving him my good Company, that he did
not know what he could do to make me a fuitable
Retaliation : Befides, laid he, the Water Melon
which you garve me, I do not take it for fuch a flight
Prefent as you imagiite ; for the Seeds I defign to
plant s and though it may not yield better Melons
than what I already have, yet, being fprung from
the Seed of a Melon which came from Abroad, it
will always pafs for a Buirity.

I asked him. If he ibould be pleafed to accept of
a Pompion of the Growth of St. JolinV ?

He thanked me, and told me. He would, but
would have but oite, which would yield him Seed
enough.

So I called on Board, and bid them bring one
of St. Philip's Ifland Pompions, and another that
was brought from St. John's, which they did,
and I prelented them to Singore Jbuifs, who told

X 4 xc^^^

1'h;U was his Title, but his Name was Singore

tt\ this Timc^ the Slave was returned with the
lisppXiM Sih'tr Oar ; It was a Rock of a yeUowifh
|Cl^l^ is-^h^:-. and tieAkrf cffin Flakes, about the
1'h vVpc^< ^* tte!> Slasff ^wiadi arc ufed to cover
VJ '^^ir>N. hiV n* ?Y^tninc feai^fes, which glifteued

', r ■^," ^^- / *5Mir»fi zlfpc a:« no Silver con*

♦,,■•..■. - .- .'J* ;• .lac 9t:Tbsr didlbelieWy if all

•^ , .< .-.-.• ?A ttzoir. zt-Mt it cofftained any. v

*^' 4;-wi. ^/- h:s P^rfj he hiew ftotbin^ of the

. ciasf ri* confiant Notion^ of longer

^ . .. r;- j^'^^^.ry of any livings that that

1 '

*:■.■ vf.

^v'. '^*- '^ "A-liing to argue, told him. It might
> . • '\:x.: I i^^csj.

•:':■:. :-,\d me, If I thought it vs:as worth my ac^
. - ■»; • -r, J:e ijoculd giise m$ as much of it as I pleafed
iv ^v:/•;7, and his Slaies Jhould Mug it down to
the IVater Side for me on Affes.

I thanked him, and told him, / could not make
any Ufe of it at p^cfent -, that I was going to the
Ifte of May, and defigned tx) take in Salt there for
this III and '^ and when I cams bac^ again^ I would
confult zvitb him about it.

He asked me. If I would ga with him on the
Morrow y and he would fend 'a Horfe and Slave
down for me,

I told him, I only flopped iere for an Opportunity
to %et round the Voint of the Ijland^ and was in
hopes^ the next Days 7'ide^ to have fucb an Op^
portunity^ and therefore would defer my going to fee
bis Mnie^ till my Return from the Ifle oflAzy.

He asked n^e. If I was acquainted with any of
tie Singores of the City ?

I toI4 him, / knew fome of them.

C ^'^ ]

He askM m?, ff^bo ? I told him, / knew the
General^ Singore Bilpo, Singore Pedro Balld^a-
vefla, Singore Antonia de Barra, Singore Ovidore,
and a great many more.

Jle faid, / knew the beft Fidallgo'j oH the Jfland ;
and that Siiigore Pedro Ballderaveflla was bis good
Friend.

I told him, So be was mine ; and ask'd him^
Whether he had feen him lately r and that I If oped
he was in good Health.

He feid, He never had feen bim in his Life j
hut that he had done bis' Father a great Kindn^s^
in fpealking in bis Behalf to the Singore Ovidore :
But^ feid he, / do not remember it ^ but have often
beard my Father talk of it.

I ih)ird to myfelf. and thought it mufl: be a
very flight Friendfbip, where there was not fo
much as an Acquaintance.

We had a g^eat deal of Diicourfe more, in
which he often repeated, how much he was bound
to, and efteemM his unknown (but by hearfay)
as well as unfeen Friend ; and I could not but
wifh Gratitude were as much usM among us, who
generally forget a good Turn but a few Days ago ;
and yet thefe ignorant (I ihpuld fay innocent) .
Crntures, are extremely fenfible of Favours done,
iK>t only to thei)nielves, but %o their Anceftors, for
Ages pad.

It being Evening, he arofe to go; and ask*d
me, IVbaf ^me I thought J Jhould fail to Mot'^
tow ?

I tpld hini;^ In the Mornings a little after Sun-*
fife.

He told me^ ^hat if J went fo foon^ he could
not tell whether be coul^ be down fo early j but if
not^ he would fend a Skv^ down with a Goat to me^
and fm^ ^ttlk i and if be Jhould not fee tne bffor^

■Z*'

lV4]

.^^i^xdVoyage^ and hoped wJjtn
' ^^Mr £»Id/eefne.
''"'. ^ Lent one of another, away
•''^ ^il^ r:i his Houfe, and I on Boarcf^
Difturbance.
bedmes came down two Slaves
*"^^^ jBiit^o Calabaflies of Milk for me ,
•'^^ inj, f>j/ tbeir Mafter would go up on a
^' '^^ it (cMfee me under Sail.

i iive lent a Water-Melon, and a Fogo^

i" Smpre Jorge the Jhuifs ; but the Black

^ dieir Mdter ordered them not to take

^^ Day being a fine Day, I weigh d, and

,^ awn this Bay, which, for want of another

gnt; I caird Porto Jorge ; for I had ask'd the

^^tJcndcman, JVbattbey called this Road P And

j^^, STfat be never bad feen^ nor beard of any

2^is being in it before ^ and tbougbt that the

^ikis wbicb lay off in the Sea^ rAadq it dangerous

^ tome in J and no Vejfel ever being in it afore , be

idie'v^d 'voas tbe Keafon it never bad a Name.

I told him, IVitb bis Leave I ijgould give it a
Hame.

He laid. If Iwouldy be would endeavour itfhould
elways go by tbat Name,

So I gave it the Name of ?orto Singore Jorge y
and I believe it goes by that Name ftill.

I got about the Bigbude^ which is the North-
Eaft Point of thelflandof St. Jago^ about Noon ;
the Wind was North-Eaft, light Gales 3 and
about two or three in the Evening I law the Ifle
of May^ and Monte Pinofa bore South-Eaft-by-
Eaft ; hvfl. the Lee Tide let us away to the South-
ward apace: We fetched in, as nigh as I could
guels, about the Calyete j but it being Night (or
rather Morning, for it was between one and two
when I got {i} clofe in, as to be obliged to tack off)

C3<5 3

and but a difficult Place to go in at, I darM not
venture in in the Night ;' w I ply d all Night ;
but, by the Time Day broke out, I was got
about midway between the Calyete and the Porto
Englefcj which is the Road us*d by our Ships
which go there to load Salt ; £ot which Reafbn it
is fo call'd; tho' the Inhabitants have another
Name among themfelves, "viz. Tmgdofs^ and cmly •
(Call it Porto Engkfe when they Ipeak to Euro^
peans.

Finding it would be very tedious to beat up
again, becaufe the Flood Tide runs nothing at al| #
there ; but the Ebb, which is the Lee Tide, iet$
ftrong, I bore away for Tingiofs^ and anchor d
there in four Fathom, in the Middle of the Bay ;
But no Ships being there, and the SurfF running
ib high on the Shore, that we could do nothing
at that Place, I was forc'd to weigh, and beat up
to Kalyete or Paafeco^ which lies to Windward of
Calyete ; and this.coft me two Days ^ and finding
that alfo not convenient for landing my Things,
and that it was a long Way from the Salt Pans j
after I had been to pay my Compliment to Cap-
tain Vicente Alba <vel Alva^ who was come down
to fee me, I returned on Board, weigh'd, and run
down to the Calyete^ and there anchored, and.dii^
pos*d of my Things, and had Salt brought to me
there by the Natives, for which I paid with <bme
of my Cargo that I had brought from St jobrf^
and St. Pb flip's.

I cannot tell juftly who was the Author, but a
Notion my Mariners all had, that I took in thit
Salt, to carry it, and them, to Barbadoesj where
they muft be Slaves during their Lives, gave me
a great deal of Perplexity at this Place : Neither
was it in my Power to convince them of the con-
trary, and accordingly they all to a Man left me,
and went afhorq.

[ 3'0

And now I was in a fcurvy Condition ; I had
bartered away almoft all my Provifions for Salt j
the^o raged a fcverc Famine at this Ifland, info-
much, that fbme of the Inhabitants were ready to
be ^mifli'd ; and I could not exped, if it had
been in their Power, that they, would treat me as
I was us*d at St. Jobn^ or St. Pbilip^s ; and yet
I had not Help enough to get my Anchor up, or
venture to run for St. J^f^Oy which then was very
plentiful and fertile, tho' before, for three Years
paft, th^ had fofler'd a fore Famine alfo.

At length two Blacks came and offered their
Service to go with me 5 one was a Native of St.
Nicholas^ and told me, fbat hi came from tbence
abou$ ten Months before in an Englifti Ship • but tbe
Captain not proving fo kind to bim as be expeSfed^
be left bim at tbis Ifland^ wbere be bad been about
eigbt Montbsy and was almofl ftam)d fence he came
here ; and if I would take him^ he iaid, he would
never leave me.

Upon which I took him, being as glad of him,
as he was of my Provifions.

The other was a Native of St. Anthonio^ who
alfo engaged to go with me.

The St. Antbonio Man told me, ^bat Ijhould
make a better Hand if I went to St. Anthonio with
my Salty and to go from thence to the Ijle of Sal,
and take a Gang from St. Anthonio, to kill turtle
there J and fell them at the I/land of St. Nicholas,
which ft ill was very fcarce of Provifions,

I ask*d him. How long he had been from St. Anr
thonio ? He told me, About eigbt Months y fo I
concluded to take his Advice, if the Wind &^
vour'd, to fetch thefe Iflands ; if not, I could but
go to St. Jago at laft, which I (hould always have
under my Lee.

So

C 3'7]

So we fail'd from Calyete in the Evening, and
ftretch'd to the Northward all Night, the Wind
holding pretty much to the Northward, as North-
Eail-by-North, and North-North-Eaft, with light
Wind^, and a head Sea ; io that when the Day
broke out, the Northermoft Point of St. Jage
bore about Weft-North-Weft, about the Diftance
of five or fix leagues.

The light Winds ftill continuing, in which my
Boat would do nothing with her fixiall Sails, I was
afraid of being iagg'd down {o to Leeward, that
I could not fetch either St. Nicholas^ or St. AntbcH
nioj wherefore I was refblv'd to bear away to
St. Ja^Oj which I did, and run for the North-
Eait Point ; and finding a large &ir Bay, about
two Leagues or Ibmething more to the Southward
of the BickudSj which, for want of another
Name^ C^^^ being no Inhabitants ^thereabouts to
know, nor could I find from any others by what
Name they called it) I call'd Porto fine Noma^ or
the namelefs Koad : I run in there, and anchored
on the Northern or Weather Side of the Bay ;
for tho' it was a fair, large, and feem'd to be a
clean Bay, with a large Beach or Strand of fmall
pebble jStones, which moft commonly denotes
clean Ground, yet the Land was fo high, that it
made an eddy Wind blow right into the Bay ;
and tho* I had not Ihot in half Way to the Bot-
tom of the Bay, yet I found the eddy Winds
blew right in on the Shore, and the Sun being
paft the Meridian, the Gale freftien d on the Coaft,
and the Eddy, or counter Winds blew in the Bay
proportionable in Strength : And being got fo far
in, that I could not weather the Southermoft Point
that made the Bay, I refolv'd to anchor in the
firft convenient Place I could under the High
Land, on the. North Side of the Bay, and wait
for the Land Breeze in the Night, which is cora-

mon, or it Calm, to row out ; and finding a lit*
dc lanviy Cove, I run for it^ with an eaiy Sailj
havii^ lowered down my Main&il and Forefail,
that by running flowly along, I might the bettei'
vi^^y and find a convenient Place ; and founding
with a Stone flung to a fifhing Line, I found it
was pretty fteep, and was within a Stone's-Caft
of the Sixand of the little Cove before I haci
Ground.

I let go rny Anchor about the Middle of die
Cove, and the Wind not blowing right in, but
flanting along down to the Bottom of the great
Bay, the VeflTel tailed towards the Weftermoft
Point of the Rock that made the Cove ; and aftei*
I had given a fuflicient Scope of Cable, and
brought up fo niffh, that our Stem was about the!
Boat's Length Irom the Rock, it was pretty
fmooth Water, but the Flaws fbmetimes blew in
pretty ftrong, tho' not fo as to fear our Ground-
Tackle holding.

The St. j^ntbonio-Mati told me. He did not like
the Place^ for it was the wildeft Part of that
Quarter where the Banditti inhabited.

I told him, ^hey could not hurt us^ we halving
no Bufinefs ajhore^ and that I was refolvd in the
Night to go'^ with which he feem'd to be la-
tisfy'd.

They got the Pot on, arid went to work to boil
fome Pompion and Sherree^ (which is the largefl:
Part of the Maiz when it's pounded, and when
boil'd, fomething refembles boil'd Barley) de-
figaing to make Pap, and I lay down to take a
Nap while they got it ready ; and had but juft
got afleep, when I was awaK d by Stones liove
into the VeflTel, whereof fome of them fell oil
the Qiiarter Deck, under which I lay. I ask*d^
IVhat was the Matter ? My Folks" aniwer'd, ^hef
did not know s but a Parcel of Blanks ajbore bcn>^

down Stoms^ and call'd us all the ill Names tbey
could think of. I put my Head up the Scuttle
abaft to fee, ahd as loon as they elpy'd me, fla^
came feveral Stones at me : I dodg'd under the
Deck ; and as loon as they ceasM heaving Stones,
I look'd up again^and in the St.Jago Creole Tongue
ask'd them the Realbn of u(mg us ib roughly?
But they fell more furioufly than at firft to heav-
ing Stones, and Ibme fo large, that I was afraid
they would fink the Boat, calling me all the
R(^es, Thieves, and Picaroons, fc?r. that their
Malice was capable of expreffing ; and asking me,
Whether I had a Mind to carry them away ? And if
I had there were Slaves enough prefent for me ; ani
hid me come ajhore like a Man-thieving Devil^ and
they were ready for me^ &c.
. I had no other Remedy, but to (hield myfelf
under the Deck again, till the Guft of their Fury
was over, and they ceasM to heave Stones 5 my
Companions advifmg me, in their Fright, to cut
the Cable, or get up the Anchor, and hurry away
out of that dangerous Place, not confidering that
we could not ft^d upon Deck to weigh the An-
chor, or to do any thing towards endeavouring to
get the Veflei away, either by Sails or Oars 5 be-
fides, the Wind blew right in on the Point of the
Rock, and we had fo little Room, that the Veflei,
if we could or would expofe ourfelves, would be
alhore before Ihe could gather any Way ; and the
Rocks over us were moreover lb high, that the
Veflei was, as it were, under them, {o that thofe
Barbarians could almoft tumble any Stone on
Board, that they were capable of lifting.

As foon as I dar^d, I look'd up again ; I begg'd
of theirflo ceafe heaving Stones, and let me but
(peak to thein ; but they feem'd to be the more
exalperated at me, and one hove a Stone fo un-
•xpededly, as I ftood with my Head and froitt

[ po ]

my Breaft upwards above the Deqk, that it had
like to have put an End to my Life, for it fell on
the Edge of the Scuttle, and there broke to Pieces ;
Part tumbling down, the reft lying on the half
Deck. I dodg*d down^ having received no Hurt,
but pretty much fear d ; but they tumbled the
Stones down ib thick, that the half Deck wa& at*
moft covered with theift.

The Folks and the Boy IhelterM themfeivcs for-
ward behind the Maft, and under the Forecaftle,
the little Boy frightened almoft out of his Wits $ as
indeed, fo vvere we alL

Looking from behind the Maft, after they had
ceased heaving Stones, to fee whether they were
gone Of no^ one^ of them hove a great Stone,
which ftruck agafnft the Maft^ and there fhatter'd
to finall Pieces- ;vu^n which the Boy drop'd down
under the Beam, and I thought the poor Child
was kill'd, which he would undoubtedly, had the
Stone hit him j but he\receiv'd no harm, only .
dropping down, either with the Fright, or to Ihun
the Danger, oi^both j^ut he could not tell when
I ask'd him afterwards, 'If^bat made him fink down ?
but laid. He thought he Jhould be kilted ^ and that
tbey all thought I had been killed by the Stone tbdf
fell on the Scuttle.

The Quarter-Deck being open, having no
Bulk-head^ only at the Head of my Cabbin, fo
that I could fee fore and aft, when I was under
the Half-Deck ; as fbon as that Storm was over,
and they ceas'd heaving Stones, I looked up again ;
for as loon as they were quiet, I began to fear
they would fwim off and attempt to board us,
which I was refolv'd not to fuffer them to do, as
long as I had Life or Strength to opptrfe them.
I no fooner rais'd my Head in Sight,** but flam
came three or four Stones at me ^ but I prevented
their hurting me by dropping under Deck : Some

of

bf thefii came down the Scuttle, and one bf theni
glanc'd againft my Ankle, which, tho' I felt no-*
thing pf it then j yet it t>ain'd me fome timQ
after.

When I found their Fury fbmething abated^
for th6y ceas'd heaving Stones as fboh as I dived
out of Sight, I lookd ijp again^ and begg'd of
them hut to let me fpeak to tbem. They called me
all to naught, and laid, / was the Devil that cm^
fnanded the other Devils^ and hid me come afhore,

I told them, / would^ if they would firfi let me
fpeak to them. They told me^ Nb , / mufi come
afbotf y,2ind fell a heaving Stones again ; at which
I fecur'd mylelf again under the Deck.

, Then they call'd to me ^ but I made no Anlwer i
They call'd feveral Times ; and at laft^ they faid^
If I did not come up^ they would tumhle down Rocks
and Stones till they Jilfdorjunk the Vejfel.

I looked upj, and iaid, ubey would neither give
Tne Liherty to fpeak^ or come upon Deck^ without
running the Hazard of having my Brains knocked
out.

They told me, S'hey would hea^tie fio mote Stones
if J would come afhore.

Ifaid, I would. in a very little ^ime -^ hut thai
thert was, a funken Rocky wheteon ^^as not IVater
enough yet for the Boat td fleet over ; hut that^ as
the tTater was rifin^^ J could in a little ^ime put
the Boat to the Rocky and tien J would come ajhori
to them. ^

This I Only faid to amufe them, t6 hav0 an
Opportunity to appeafe them ; for there was no
funken Rock, it being fteep too, at the rocky Point
of the Cov6 whereon they ftood tumbling Stones
tipon us.

They bid tntfwim afhor^. J told thefn, / could
not fwim .; hut if they would have a little Patience
till the Water ficfj)^ dy I would put the Boat to th^

[ 3ii I!

Kock aitdgd ajbore to them^ or they Come on Board^
which they fleas d.

They adcM, How long it would he ^ I told
them, y4 very little ^ime. At which they feem'd
eafy, and iat down on the Rock.

I did not fee above four there, but I could hear
them Ipeak to others, who were behind in a
Clift of the Rock. I look'd very narrowly to fee
if they had any Fire Arms, but perceiv'd none i
yet dar*d not to come up, ftanding in the Scuttle,
ready to drop my Head down, if there Ihould be
Occaiion.

They ask'd me, If^hat Countryman I was ? I .
^told them, I was an Englijhman.

They ask'd. If I was fent there hy the^ King of
Portugal ? I told them. No.

They demanded, IVhat I came there for ? I
told them, / was leaky ^ and wanted to hale ajhort-
to flop my Leak ; but as there was no conn)enient
Place^ I defignd to go to Porto Formofa, where
was a more con'venient Place to hale ajhore.

By this Time the others behind the Rock came
and lat down in Sight with the reft : I told fifteen,
and could not tell whether there were any more j
but I faw no Fire Arms among them, and was the
moi*e confirmed in it, becaufe I thought if they
had any, they would have made ufe of them
againft us. They had moft of them Lance* and
long Knives, fuch as that which Singore Jorge
Vkarela had, and fome had Swords.

They call'd to me again, and ask'd, IVhy I did
not conw ajhore ? I told them, I would prefently.

They feem'd very impatient 3 and told me. If
I (hferrd coming mty longer^ they would heave Stones
till they funk the Boat.

I told them, / had done them no harm as yety

except they reckoned my anchoring there was an In--

jury to them ; "that they had done me a great deal

t 3i? ]

i)/ tyamdge already^ with their heaving Stones in
the Vejfel : SThat I came there with no Befign to
injure them^ nor any Body elfe^ hut as a Friend^
nndfor that Keafon^ I did not do my [elf that Juftice
which was in my Power to do^ for the Abufe which
they J Without any Provocation^ had treated me with :
S'bat I bad Fire Arms and Ammunition enough on
Boardj to have laf& them all dead ^ but fuppofing
they might he miftaken^ and believe me to he feme
vther^ who perhaps had deferv^d this ill treatment
at their Hands ^ ^hat Confideration^ faid I, (tho*
I had neither Gun nor Powder on Board • but
fince ifkir Means would nbt do, I was relblv'd, if
jpoiEble, to frighten theiti) and the Eft e em which I
always had for Pcrfons in your Condition^ has de^
terrd me from hurting you hitherto y hut ify notwitb^
ftanding^ what I have faid to you^ will not prevent
your future Incivilities^ Imuft he fore' dy tho' againft
my Will^ to do myfelf Juftice with the Death of
as many of you^ as will prefume farther to affront
me.

At this they let lip. a hideous Hollow, calling
Stones as feft as they could, calling to one ano-
ther to go home, and bring their Spring Guarda^s^
iand fight for their Lives ^ I dived down as fooii
as I perceiv'd them take up the Stonesjand (hunn*d
the Danger ; my Men calling from afore to me,
and telling me, tVe could expeSi nothing from them
tow but Death : Aiid indeed t cannot lay that my
Expedation was of any thing elfe ^ but I was re-*
iblv'd to make the beft I could of it, and bid my
Folks hold their Tongues, and let me alone to
manage them, and did not Fear but we fiiould do
^ell enough.

As £b(3n as their Fufy was over, and they ccas'd
heaving Stones, which lafted about half a Quar-
ter of art Hour^ their Hearts 1 believe failM them,
tod they got all behind the Rock^ i \aoVdM^^

y a ^^^

[ P4 ]

but could not fee one of them. I began to think
they were gone ^ and looking (harp about, I per-
ceived one of them peeping over the Rock. I was
juft going to ipeak, when flam came a Stone : I
dived y but not finding that any more was com-
ing, I look'd up again, and took a Piece of a
fifhing Cane, which I had cut fliortfor a Walking-
Stick, and held it out as thoi^h it had been a
Gun, and call'd to them, and tqld them, /was
^very lotb to do them any Damage , and if I did^
it would be much againfi my Inclination^ becaufe I
had fuch an Efieem for all their Country^ and was
*very well known and refpeSied by fome of the befi '
Singores on that Part of the Ijland.

I flill kept my Eyes about me, left they fhould
go to their old Work of heaving Stones again :
At laft one of them Ipoke from behind the Rock,
and ask'd me. If I kjjew any Body that liv^d on the
garter of Terra-Fall ? (for all that End of St,
J ago is caird the garter of ^erra-FallJ. I faid.
Yes.

They called to me again ; but I could not per-
ceive any body, by reafbn of the fear of my fup-
pos'd Gun, which I kept {o that they could not
difcover the Cheat, and ask'd me, IVho I knew in
the £^iarter of Terra-Fall ?

I told them, / knew Singore Juan Vharela, the
Padrey and feveral others^ (whofe Names I had
learn'd when I was at Porto ^erra-FallJ and like--
wife Singore Jorge Vharela the Jhuifs, who had
Veen "very kind to me^ and with whom I had a ^ery
g^reat Friendjhip • and that I was to go to fee hijtiy
as foon as I bad flopped the Leak of my VejfeL At
which they all llarted up, and ask'd me. If mine
was the Vejfel that had been at Singore Jhuifs'^
Porto ?

'r

I told

[ 3^5 ]

1 told them, Tcs^ I was the fame ; and was fure
if Singore Jhuifs knew that I was there^ and fo
affronted^ that - he wpuid foon be . there to afjift me -
and that it was the KefpeSi I had for bim^ and my
other good Friends in thefe Parts ^ made me not to
revenge myfelf on them^ knowing that what they did^
mufi certainly he occafior^d throng Miftake,

They laid. It Hoas "very true^ and they were
*very forry they bad affronted me fo , and took me
to he of that Sort of People called Pirates^ and were
afraid tl>at I was either come to take them away for
Sla'ves^ or their Cattle for Food ; or elfe^ . that I
ijoas fent by the King of Portugal, to apprehend
fome of them that were fied thither from the Opprcff-
on of the Ovidore, and the reft of the Branca'^ of
the Cidade, /. e. the Portuguefe living in or about
the City ; the Ovidore being the King of Portu-
gal's chief Jufticiary of all the Cape de Verd
Iflands, as well as of all the Coaft of the main
Continent of Guinea under his Authority.

I told them, / did not look like one upon either of
thofe Defignsj having no more than two Men and
a little Boy with me.

'Xhey laid, ^hey did not know hut I might ba"je
bad a great many Men hid under the Co-verty (i, e.
the Deck).

I ask'd them. If they thougl^t fo^ how dcird
they to have come fo nigh^ for par of bein^ fJoot.

They laid, ^hey were fworn to cppofe all that
came to break the Privilege of the Place ; and if
I had fird at them^ they would have kep clofe be-
hind the Rocky to keep us from getting up in the
Country y and in the mean time would have fent IVord
up to raife the Country, And^ continu'd they, %ve
have already fent up to To-wn for more Help^ a?id
likewife Fire Arms ; but fince we underjiand wbo^
you are^ we will fend up to flop their coining down^
and Ijkewife for fomethingfor a Prefect for 'jou.

Y 3 \xV^x^^

I thank'd them, and continued talking about
one Thing or another, till the Mcffenger canie
back that they had fent, who brought a Calabafh
of Milk, and a large Cock and a Hen : They
held them up, and fliewing thqm to me, defir'd
me to put the Veflel to the Rock to take them
in.

I told them, / could net put the Vejfel te the Rock
yjitbout Danger of ftaving her.

They laid, They fwotild not have me come to mtf
pamage for ever fo much j but hoped I was not
afraid that they would hurt me.

I told them, No not at all (tho' I did not much
ijCare for trufting them).

They bid me fend one of my Mariners aftiore
for the Prelent.

I told them. None of my Mariners could fwim ;
that when J was at Singore Jhuifs's Tort^ his Slaves
were forced to fwim off with Singore Jhuifs'j Pre^
fents^ and likewife carry what Prefents J made him
af?xre^ hecatife none of my People could fwim ; a}id
when I v:ent afhore to him^ I was forcd to put tha
Veffel afhore ; which I could do fafe enough there ^
hy reafon it was a much better Port than this ; but
if one of them would bring their Prefcnt off^ I would
fee for fomething to fend with him afloore^ in return
of their Kindnefs.

They faid, i'hey did not defire any thing ^ they
were "very forry for the Ahufe they had given me^
and thought they were highly obligd to me for being
fo gencYoufly reconcifd to them^ and hop^d they bad
not done the Veffel any Damage.

I told them, Thi^y had not 5 which if they had,
I (hould not have told them ; and iaid, ^hat I
hoped they were itot afraid that I would be fo bafe as
to do them any Ha^rm.

They

C 3^7 ] -

They faid. No ; but yet did not feem very will-
ing to venture to come on Board.

At laft a lufty grim4oofc*d Fellow faid. If I
would put the Boat in at the Beach^ fo that be could
wade in^ he would come ^ but^ laid he, / can^t nor
Iwor^t fwim.

It being now ahnoft Sun-let, and the Wind
much lefi in the Offings fo that the Eddy- Flaws
were now but weak, inlbmuch, that I could eafi-
IVj by veering Cable, back her Stem to the
iBeach, and likewife there they could not do me
much Damage, as being farther from the Rock,
than as I rid ^ I told him, I would: So getting
out two Oars, and veering Cable, and backing
her Stem too with out* Oars, till I could get
Ground with a fliort Oar, I fet her in as nigh as
I thought fit, and then bid him come ; who was
got down the Rock, and ftood on the Beach,
armed with his Lance, Sword, and long Knife.

I bid him leave his Lance on the Beach, as
being troublefbme as well as needlefs to wade off
with. He, with a hefitating Unwillingnels, at laft
did, and waded off with his Sword, Knife, Cala-
bafh of Milk, and the two Fowls, holding them
up that they Ihould not be wet, and waded till
the Water was as high as his Navel, and tlien
ftopp*d, and bid me put the Boat nigher in. I
caird to the Boy in Engltjh^ not to 'veer any more
Cable^ and fet .her in till the Cable was taut^ and
bid my Gueft wade on.

He came, and by that Time he was got to the
Boat's Stern, was up to the Arms. I told him,
^he Boat would not fleat any further in ; fb he
handed me the Milk and Fowls, and then would
fain have got up with his Sword and Knife iii hi$
Hand. 1 told him. He need not fear to truft me
with them. He law he could not get up with
them in his Hand, and yet was very loth to truft

Y 4 xs^^

tee with them : however, with abundance of Difft-
dence, he haladed his Sword up taipe, and en-»
deavour'd to get up with his Knife in his Hand,
which they always truft to, as the fiircft Weapon ^
bpt finding he could not, at laft he handed that
to me alfo, and then I gave him an End of a
^Lope for a Man-Rope, by which j^e got up.

As fbon a^ he got in on the Quarter-Deck, he
ialuted me with the ulual Formalities, and pre-?
tended they were very ibrry for the Ryd^nefs that
they had offer 'd to me. I told him. It was "very
wellj I }t€ver bore any Malice^ efpecially when I
was injur d by a Mijiake^ as I was fatisfyd this
was.

The Fellow ey*d his Sword and Knife in ^ny
JIand, but was afraid, I believe, to ask them of
me : I obferv*d it, but did not fcem to take any
Notice of it.

I was puzzled what to give them ; and ask*d,
]f they wanted any Salt ? He faid, No^ they had
Plenty of Salt j for they could get enough to ferve
them^ wade by the Sun on the Kocks ; but he had
heard^ that there was a great Scarcity of Salt at the
Cii'y ; which I knew as well as he.

The Fellow feem'd to be very uneafy, and
ofTer'd to take his Sword ^ but I would not de-
liver it to him. He faid, He wanted to go ajhore^
I told him. He Jhould prefently.

I had a Felt Hat, which I had purchasM at the
Ifle of May^ and having nothing elfe to give, I
prefented him ^yith that, telling him, ^bat was
all that I bad worth giving ; but wijh*d I had one
for every one that was afloore. He faid, It was very
ivcll,

I told him, I had no particular Knowledge of any
of thcui^ and therefore gave it among them all^ for
them to do as they thought fit with : So he defirM
jne fo put the Boat in again, that he might go

alhore.

C 3^9 1

afliore, I ask'd him, Whether he could Hot fuotm ?
yrho faid no j and fo I put the Boat as nigh to
the Beach as I thought fit, and then bid him get
m%o the Water, and I would hand the Hat and his
Arms to him, as foon as he was on the Ground.

I fix'd him a Man-Rope, and down he went by
it s but by that Time his Feet touch'd the Bot-
tom, his Chin was in the Water, upon which he
caird out to put the Boat nigher in, or he could
not get aftiore, I bid him let go the Rope, and
get afliore. and I would heave the Things to him
aflipre. * He did lb s hut mutter'd as he went,
and 1 believe he never expeded to get his Arms
again.

H6\yever, when he was got afliore, I hove the
Things aftiore, and they afi retum'd me Thanks,
and laid, they would bring me a fat Goat, and
Ibme more Milk down in the Morning. I thank'd
them y and it being almoft duskifli, away they
went, bidding me Adieu, telling me, that they
would be down iij the Morning betimes. I laid
it was very well.

I have been the more prolix in relating this,
becai^ie I do not know that I met with any thing
in the whole of this Voyage, that appeared to me
more dangerous than this Adventure at firft did ,
and I can't deny but it gave as great a Shock to
my Courage, as any thing thap I f aij remember in
the whole Courfe of nfiy Life.

The Night proving almoft calm, I expeded an
off-lhore Land-breefe ; and waiting till the Mom-
jng-Star rofc, and no Land-breele coming, I
drew up my Anchor, and rowed out, not caring
CO be caught among the Banditti another Day.

So we rowed out till we got into the true Wind,
which was about the Break of Day, and I run
down diredly for Porto Formofay and into the
Head of the Bay.

C no 1

Here I went afliore, and was met by *$¥»-
gore Antmi^ tbavaatj the principal Gentleman
thereabotits, who was coming to fee what Veflel
it was that had enter'd into the Road : He was
attended by eight Slaves, with Lances, two had
each of them a Piftol, which they are obHg'd to
cany, being fo near Neighbours to the Vbilhaueas
of uerrshfdtl : And when I told him how I had
been ferv'd at Porto fine Noma^ he croTs^d himfeli^
txni laid. It was the greateji Miracle in the IVorlA
that we bad not been all killed ^ and f$r his Party
he would not have been in my Place for the ](flani
ef St. Jago.

This Gentleman is a White, of the Race df
Portugal i and when I tdd him what I had got on
Board, he laid, S'bat there was no hedy at this
Forty hut very poor black People^ and had nothing
t$ give me in return for my Salt. As for bimfelfy
he feid, be had a finall Place on his Efiatey where
his Slaves made Salt enough to ferve him ^ hut if I
wanted any thing that he could help me tOy he would
freely do it.

I thank'd him, and he invited me up to his
Houfe,, which was not far off the Water-fide,
where I was entertained very courteoufly. He
would fain have had me to ftay all Night ; but I
told him, / never lay cut of my Vejfel at Night ^
to he fent two Slaves to wait on me down, and
loaded them with Cocoa-Nuts, Mand'yokes, and
a live Goat to kill on Board.

Next Morning he fent down two Slaves with ail
Als loaden with Provifions and Fruit, with an In-
vitation to come and dine with him.

I, defigning to get a little Wood and Water
here, fent Word up that I would ; as foon as they
were got home, one of them with a Horfe was
lent down for me.

C 33; ]

When I came up, I ask'd the Gendeman Icavo
to cut a little Wood. He told me. His Slaws
jhould cut it for nte^ and carry it down.

I thanked him, and faid. My Folks lad nothing
elfe to do hut to H^ood^ W'ater^ and drefs their
Vi£iuals.

He faid, He had Slaves enengh idle : So htf or-
dered, half a Dozen of them to go and cut Wood,
and carry it down with Afles, till the People of
the Sloop faid they had enough.

In the Afternoon I took my Leave of him,
tho' he would fain have had me ftaid till Night ;
but I told him, / wanted to be on Board to fee that
the Water was filtd^ and every thing got ready for
failing before the Day4?reefe came 3 for if I ftaid
till it fet in J I could not get out of the Port,

He laid, / knew what I had to do better than he ;
hut if my Bufinefs would have permitted it^ hefhould
have been very glad of my Company : So, after G>m-
pliments pafs*d, I took my leave.

He fent a Slave do^ip with me, and a little
^ after came down two Slaves with a Bag of
" Feihoons, fbme Sherree, a Calabafh of Mel^ (i. e.
IVIoloflus) and half a Dozen of Cheefes, the fix
weighing about one Pound and half. I returned
him Thanks, which was all the Retaliation I
could make, and I believe all the Gentleman
defir'd.

Next Day, as loon as the Morning-Star ap-
peared, I weighM, and fail'd out of the Bay
with a fine Land Air, and by dawning was got in
the true Wind ; and coafting along Shore, I run
down the Length of St. Jago Town into the Bay,
but did not oblerve any convenient Place that I
could land at, the Suff running lb high. My St,
Antonio-M^xi was my chief Pilot, and I found
him tolerably well acquainted with all the little
^oves and Bays*

C JP ]

He told me. That a little farther was the beft
Port in all the Ifland of St. Jago, According to
his Advice, I run down, and entered into the
Harbour^ which was as he had told me, and
caird Porto Madera. I moored there, my Anchor
ciE^ and a Rope feft afliore to a Rock, which was
like a Key, having twelye Foot at low Water
dofe to the Rock.

• There being np Inhabitants living near the
Port, and the Way jhut indifferent from thence to
the Village of St. Jago^ I coafted along down
to Praya Formofa^ and touched thiere, and at St.
Domingo ^ from thence I proceed to Porto Lobo^
where I tarry'd fbme time, and received a Letter
from the General of the Cape de Verd Iflands
about a certain Bufinefs, and had a Man an4
Horfe fent for me.

I rid to him to the Town from Porto Loho^
leaving my Boat there. It's accounted about 20
Miles by Land ^ but a Man had Jitter ride 40 in
England. ^

After the General and I had talk'd the Matter
about which I came 5 being in Company, and
talking about my Balandra^ ft. e Sloop, as they
cali'd it) Singore Pedro Balderavejfa ask'd me. If
Jbe was capable of going to Guinea ? I told him.
She W({S not decked all over^ but a fmall Charge
would do it -^ and then jhe might go to Guinea well
enough.

He ask'd me. How many Slaves Jhe could carry ?
I told him, y4bout thirty at leaft.

He told me. If I would bring her down to Calyete
St. Martin, that he might fee her^ he would buy her
all i or if I was minded to continue in her^ which he
would rathe^^ I might hold what Part I pleased ^
and whatever was wanting to the fitting^ her for a
Guinea Voyage^ he would procure 5 as alfo a Cargo.

I told him. She was at a ^ood Pert now ; and
that if be pleas'* d to give himjelf the trouble to go
and fee ber^ J would rather than to bring her down ;
becaufe Porto Lobo was more fecure^ efpeciallj
now that it drew nigh the Seafon of fhifting IVinds
and Travadoes. ,

He laid, ^bat Calyete was always reckoned the
fafeji Port in all St. Jago, and that oftentimes when
Brafile Men came thither in the rainy Seafon^ they
haled in there^ where they lay fecure from all
IVinds.

So I had a Horle back, and weighed from
Porto Lobo^ and run the Coaft down, rounding
and taking a View of the Bays of St. Francifco^
and Portate^ in my Way ; and by the Time diat
run the Length of Villa de Praya^ I found I fhould
not have Day-light enough to get into Calyete St.
Martin^ to I anchored . there till next Morning,
and then run for the Calyete j and after I had
made her faft, I lent Word to Town of my Arri-
val, and had an Anlwer the fame Evening from
Signor Pedro Balderavejfa^ that he was a little
indifpofed by a Fall that be had recei^ved fince he fam
me ; but had f poke to a Friend of bis ^ whofejudg-
went was better^ who would come in the Morning
to 'view my Balandra.

Accordingly his Friend came with another Gen-
tleman, who was Secretary of War : He had uled
thje Sea, and I underftood, that if I fold her out-
right, he was to be Singore Capiteen ; but he gave
fuch an ill Report of her to Singore Pedro Balde-
raveffoj that I queftion whether ne would have ac^
cepted of her, if I had offered her for nothing.

The fickly Time of the Year now approaching,
and, indeedj at that Time, excepting Cacbeu^
there are not many Places on the main G)ntinent
of Guinea^ more fickly than St. Jago ^ and befides,
it being the Time of Year that xdx^\^ 2l\vj ^\v\^^

loaeh here, 1 wasr rcfolved, if^l coiiW, to get W
feme of the windward Ifbnds, d|>ecial]y to St.
tlicbetasj as well to Ihun the fickly Seafbn at St.
y^, as alfi) having a Prolped: of fboner meeting
wira an European Ship to get fixMn the Iflands^
Ac Seafiin of the Year alio concurring ; for we
ape€tcd a Southern Wind now, in a little Time j
and I trucked my Salt away as fafl: as 1 could to
get OQ the Eaft Side of the Ifland, becaufe from
mence, I could not only better fiil with a Souths
erly or Wefterly Wind, but the Roads are the
iifeft aMb ^ for there is not one Road on the Lee^
Side of the Ifland, that a Man can ride fafe widi
a Wefteriy or South-Weft Wind, except Calyei9
tSt. Martin ; but then, though you may ride &h^
yet with thofe Winds you cannot get out 5 which^
nowever, are the only fairWin^ you have to
run up to the windward Iflands.

I fbon trucked off my Saltj which the Inhabit
tants were in great Scarcity of, for hdian Ccwti,
Fefboons, and Mand^yoaks, Which laft, I fticed
thin, and dried in the Sun to preferve them,
which would then beat, or pound as fine, and lock
as white, as the beft Flower, and, niixed with
Maiz, would make good Bread 5 of boiled, would
make good Pap, or Hafty-Pudding.

As foon as I had bartered off all my Salt, and
got a pretty good Cargo of Maiz, Fefhoons, Man-
d*yoaks, fbme Gxroa Nuts, Plantanes, Bananas,
i^c. I failed from Calyete St. Martin^ and flopped
at Porto Praya.

The next Day it was calm, and in the After-
noon a great Swell rowled into the Bay from the
South- Weft, which m^de. me fear a Southerly
Wind ; but it being calm, and having but few
Hands to row out • befides, Night being fo high,
I was neceflitated to run the Hazard, by lying
in the Bay all "NigjAt \ thou^K^ to make nay-

fiif as iectnre as I could, I run behiixl the btde
Ifland, and anchored in Two Fathom Water.

It held calm all Night, the Sea ccmtinued to
foam in from the South-Weft, and looked venr
black in the Weftei;pi Board; which were att
Signs of a South, or South-wefterly Wind : In the
Morning at dawning, I weighed, and rowed out
of the Bay, my Men ipelling one another at one
Oar, and I rowing at the odier, the little Boy
ibeering.

By the Time that we got the Length of the
Southermoft Point that makes the Bay,, the Breeze
appearing to come on the Water, we hoifted our
Sails ready : It came on very weak ; however,
with the Wind, and the Help of our Oars to-
gether, we got the Length of Porto Lohoj where
I deiigned to have waited an C^>portunity of a
Wiiid to run for the windward Hlands, and, if
poffible, to touch fiift at Bona Vifi^ where I knew^
there was a good Market for trovifions ; but the
Nordiiem Stream being juft made, and die Wifl<l
b^inning to freihen up at South-Eaft, I changed
my Refblution, and ftood for Porto Madera^ where
I arrived, and moored before Night.

Here I waited Eight Days, and dben having a
Southerly Wind, which came pretty fi*efii, I failed
from Porto Madera^ and ftretched over for the Ifle
of May^ and about duskilh, I was abreaft of the
Calyete^ about Two Leagues oflSng.

The Wanders few me, and, I fiippofe, being
in Hopes I was bound to their Mand, they made
a Light for me at the Calyete ; but perceiving
me pals that Place, and keep fllU to the £aft<«
ward, they put out the Light, and made a great
Fire at Paa Seco.

I kept on my Courfe to the Eaftward, and
. when I came abreaft of Nan^ia Cover aada^ I law
another great Fire made there alio.

I ftill kept on to Eaftward, till I thought I wai
jpaft the GbaUoons^ which is a Ledge of liinken
Rodcs ftretching a long way off, from the North-
Baft Side of the Ifland ; and then I fteered as di-
red as I could^ for Calyete St. Jorge ^ at Bona

Vifi.

As Night came on, the Gale decreafed, and by
Two or Three of the Clock in the Morning, it
was dwindled away to a flat Calm.

When Day broke out, Monta Pinofe bore about
Wefti-South-Weft, and I. computed myfelf to be
about Four Leagues, or better j from the nigheft
Part of the liland ; I could plainly fee Bona Vijia^
but after the Sun-rife, it di&ppearedi

I lay driving in that Channel between the Iflc
oiMay^ zxi^Bona Vift^ about Three Weeks, with
variable light Airs of Wind, moftly cahxi ^ at laft
I got on the North-Eaft Side of the Ifland, and
thought to have gone round that Way, and fb
come to the Porto Englefe • but the Wind and the
Current fb baflled me, together with the Dulnefi
of my Frigot's Heels, that I was hooked in behind
the North-Eaft Point ; and the Eaftern Trade-
wind blowing, I was forced to bear away round
the South-End of the Ifland, by which Means I
had an Opportunity of obfervang the Keef^ or, a^
the Pilots call it, a River which runs off a great
Way from the Land, at leaft One League and a
Half, and fb far off, I believe, I faw the Sea
break : It's a Ledge of funken Rocks, and great
Stones^ and from a Mile diftance off, to the
Shore, are feveral Swatches and Channels to go
through, having Water enough for any Ship :
There was a great rowling Swell, and the Wind
frefliened up, veering to the South-Eaft, which
made the Sea break where^ I believe, there might
be Two or Three Fathoms, or, perhaps, more^
Water, where I went over.

r 337 ] '

I thought I was without the Ledge, but jiifl
before I was got the Length of it, I law the Scsl
break very high, as though it beat againft a Rock^
which dia not a little furprize me ^ for I was (hot
fo far on, that I coidd nbt luff up enough to wea*
ther it, and when the great Seas came on, they
broke, feemingly, to me, every where on it, be*
tween me and the Shore.

I run for the imootheft Place ^ the Sea foamed^
and rowled as if it was going to break, but did
not ^ I founded going over, and the leaft Watei?
I had on it, was better than Four Fathom.

I got into Calyete Si. Gieofge that Evening 5 thc^'
Night proved rainy, with Thunder, and abun-
dance of Lightening, the Wind being from the
South-South-Eaft, to the South-Weft, and then
flew about to th€ Weft^North-Weft, and Norths
*and then cleared Up.

We rid pretty finooth, the Sandi and Rock
keeping off the Sea, though it blew pretty hard^
^hiie the Wind was at South*-Soudi-Eaft, and
South-South-Weft.

I lay there Two Days • but there being no con-
venient Key or Rock to land at, I took the firft
Opportunity^ and got up to the Englijh Road^
where was a Portuguefe Lanch, which the Pirates
had left there, and gave her to Domingo Gonfalvo^
who lent her to me.

Having launched and brbught her pn Board,
I employed People to get me a Cargo of Salt, and
bring it down as faft as they could ^ which they
^ could not do very faft, the late Rains having
melted all the Salt in the Pans , however, they
went to work, cleared the Pans of the Rain Wa-*
ter, and fillcid them up with Pickle^ and, in
about Three Weeks Time, I got Salt enough
made, and heaped up s but the Way was fb wet
and flippefy with the frequent Riams^ th^t \kv^

X}5n

Afles could hardly go, for it was then tke
Middle o£ Augufi^ 1724 i ^"^ about this Time
we law a Sail, which came into the Road where
I was, which proved to be a Sloop belonging to

Briftolj commanded by Captain Who

had the Bifhop of ^t.JagOy and the Vtfitador
General^ with their Attendance, on Board, and
were going their Vlfitation round the Iflands ; and
after that, the Vifitador was to vifit all the Coaft
of Guinea^ under die Authority of the King of
Portugal.

W hen they law me, it daunted them, they
thinking I was a Pirate y for feldom, and very
rare, any Ships touch at thefe Iflands at thi*
Time oi the Year.

The Captain, to be better informed, fent his
Yawl on B6ard^ and he told me afterward$»
if I had detained his Boat, or that he faw me get*
under Sail, he would have ftbod off, and prepared
for Defence.

She was a ftout Sloop, had tight Guns, and
Sixteen Hands, and, if I be not deceived, the
Captain was a Alan of Courage.

As loon as the Boat came on Board, I was not
a little rejoiced to hear Men ipeaking my Native
Lani![uac;e 5 they asked me. Habere I belonged to/
1 loJd t!iem ^cLu I-zcjs^ &c.

They told me, ^Lcr Curtain gave bis Service
to ;;;.', ,^j.d drjsrcd v;y Cowpany ok Board,

1 aiilwoi'cd, Tbai as jocn as tbeir Slcop came ti
izn . ih:lc}\ I u'cuLi go on Board.

They told me 'xbatthey zvere apprebenfive IwaSy
c7id rta: tbfir Captain zi'as afraid to ancbor^ till be
':i\:s htter i'^ifcrmed.

I lecing they had no Arms, did not much
miih'uft them • however, I did not care to ven-
ture, till I was fure ; fo I told them, ^bey fsw
y:l\:: I ''jcas^ but I did not knc^j; wbat tbey were ;

, C ^)9 3

^tit would han)e them go on Boardy and give my
Service to their Captain^ and tell him^ I would wait
x>n him^ as foon as be came to Anchor^ tf he pleafed
to fend bis Boaty for / ha^d none 5 fb awa v thty
vrtntj and, I fuppofe, \o\d him what I faid.

He immediately lent the Boat for me again^
\o defire me to do him the Favour to come and
mtbor his Veffel rn the befi Birth of the Road^ for
ie was not Acquainted with it^ neither had be any
Me bn ^oari that was.

When I fiw the Boat coihing again the Second
^Time, I begto to Tear theV were Rogues, for he
Bad a Jack Enfign and rendant flying, which
fe^de hitn look the inofe fufpicious.

When the Boat came on Board, they told me
theif Erfafid 5 fb I went with them, and anchored
the Veflel in a good Birth ; the Bifhop, Sc wa^

rtfc alhoTe dli'edly ; after which, the Cat)tain and
had Leilure tb talk.

I gave him an Accbunt what I was, and the
Occafion of rny being in that Condition, ^c. He
vras very courteous to toe, and offered to <io any
thing for fiiCj, that fiy in his Power : I told him
toy Delign of taking Salt iii for St. Nicbvlasj &c.
}ie told me. His People and Bo^t fliould put it oii
Board of me^ and gave ihe ifome thin Canvas t6
intend my Sliils with, arid a J?iece,of an old Hawfer
abbut Fifteen fathom long, and made me lie on
!feoard with hito all the Time he ftayed.

He would fain have had me gone with him,
nvhich 1 was very willing to db, till I came to under-^
ttarrd the Defigil of the Voyage, ^i^hich would no
Ways agree with what you may call hikmarie or
imiverfai Juftice, neither was it lafe ; however, t
4hdl not, as riot thinking it proper, fay any more
€if it i and this is the only Reaibn why I have not

V -'

iL't >as^

C 34<^ ]

He had a good Stock of evcrv thing ufually
carried to Sea, as Wine, Branay, Sugar, &c.
and he was of a very free and generous Diq)ofition9
tkxid I fared, you muft think, after another Rate
than I had done for' a long Time paft ^ however,
at firft I was very cautious and fearing, both as
to my Eating arid Drinking, for fear it might ftir
up too quick a Fcmient in the fluid tarts of my
Body, by the unnlixal Addition of fiich hot a&ive
Spirits, as good Eating and Drinking commonly
produce^ but notwitbftandjng my Caution, the
new Diet, and ipirituous Drink, caufed an Agi-
tation, or Ferment, tliough infenfible, till it came
to the Heighth of a Feyer, which increafed
daily.

He would not let me go from on Board of him,
and ufed me as tender, as if I had been a near
Relation, fending the Boat with his Second Mate,
to put the Salt on Board my Boat ^ and likewife
to lee and put every thing in order , he alfb o(^
fered me to fend his Second Mate in my Boat,
with fbme Hands, and I to ftay on Board of him,
where I could have any thing, and be better tend-
ed, than on Board my owh Veflel ^ but then I
confidered the Unhealthinels of St. Jago at that
Time, which was as if a Man was to go to a
Country where the Plague raged 5 likewife he
was to lail in a Day or Two, and was relblved not
to he at St. Jago above Twenty-four Hours, as
well to avoid the Contagion which then began to
rage, as likewife the Danger of the Southerly and
Wefterly Winds blowing j though, as to the laft,
I could have lecured myfelf, by running into the
Calyete St. Martin^ but then I fhould have been
in die moft fickly Part of the Ifland.

He would fain have perliiaded me to have
quitted the Boat, and offered me Encouragement
iuiFiCient to have induced me to do fb , but that,

as

[ 34t ]

as I oblerved to you before, I thought the Enter-
prize he defigued to go upon, neither fafe, nor
agreeable to the Notion I had of common Juftice,
whatever it might be to another.

The Reader may, perhaps, think it was Pyracy
the Gentleman was deligned for ^ but I do afliire
him, it was not.

I ftaid on Board of him, till the Bifhop, Vifi-
tador, and all his Paflengers, were on Board, and
he unmoored, and fliort on his other Anchor ; for,
he faid, I (hould ftay to the laft Minute that he
ftayed : He bid me take what Things I thought
might be ufeful^ to me in my Illnels, out of hi^
Medicine Cheft, which I did, ^viz. Some Sp.
Sal Armoniack, Tin6t. Antimonii, Ol. Sulph.
Camp, and fbme Theriac. Andromachi, ^c.

He bid me net [pare any thing that I thought
pjould he of life to me.

I thanked him, and faid, / hoped that would
do 5 he bid me take a little Laudanum^ I told
him, Hardly any Preparation of Opium eier agreed
with me.

. He tdd me. He bad fome of Mathews^j P/7/,
which I bad not' feen ; and I told him. If it was
rightly prepared^ I befie^ved it was a good Medi-
cine. ' ^

He {aid. He believed the Preparation was good^
and with that, gave me about Half an Ounce or
it, and ordered fbme Bread to be put in the Boat
for me, and a Dozen of Wine, Haifa Dozen of
Brandy, a Piece of a Loaf of Sugar, Ibme Butter,
Oatmeal, Flower, and what elle he could then
think would be neireflary for me.
' The Bilhop all the Time pbferving the Friend-
(hip and Freedom between us, at laft asked the .
Captain, Whether I was related to hint? he an-
swered and faid^ Tes\y I was a Chrifiian^ a Pro-
tejiant^ a Man^ a Countryman.^ mi a tettef Ma\\

C 34* ]

than he^ though I bad bad the Misfortune offalHnjf^
into the Hands of Pyrates ; and that bis Countrymen
always ufed one another fo.

After I had taken my Leave, I went intx) the
Boat, aivd was put on Board my own Veflfel ; ^nd
as foon as they returned on Board, he weighed,
and failed.

The Evening following, I aWJ> faikd for St.
Ncbdasj which was the principal iflan4 for Afies,
and that was the firft Commodity Ships canae to
trade for in thofc Parts, and moft an. end a Ship
touched at St. Nicholas for A0es. h\ the Month of
Novemler^ or December], and thofe that came in
January^ commonly loaded Sallv

I made St. Nicholas m the Morning about Six
of the Clock ; the Wind was about South- Weft,
and looked very dark and rainy, as well as wiiady-
like, which" made me lotlj to venture in, all the
Roads of that Ifland being open to thofe Winds y
lb I brought too, to confider what to do, we
were then about ,Four leagues off, I was very
weak, but tlie Cold and Wet had abated the Heat
of my Fever, together with the Care and Charjge
which I had upon me, as having no-body that I
could truft.

After I brought too, it rained very hard, and
blew, which held till about Four in the Afternoon,
then the Wind veering about to the North-Weft,
North-North- Weft, and at laft to the North, and
clearing up, promifed a fine, moderate, pleafant
Night ^ upon which I refotved to run in a Cove,
by the Inhabitants called Porto Gbuy^ which I'
judged better, as having lefs Sea tumbling in,
than at Pjrjglef:.

If it had continued untoward Weather, my
Dctign wns to run for the Ifland of St. J^w^/^
where there is both a fafc and fecure Harbour for
all Winds j but there beiu^ no Inliabitants, and I

[ 343 ]

being very ill and weak, if I grew never ih
little worle, I Ihould have been rendered tin-
capable of getting my Boat back, I having ,no-
body that I could truft to : But the Weather
breaking up, and promifing well, I run for Porfo
Gbuy^ and got in and anchored, about an Hour
after Night.

There were Ibme of the St. Nicholas People
out there a fifhing, and they had got a Fire in
a finall Qve a little Way up from tlie Sea. As
foon as we ^anchored. Two of them came down to
the Se^ Side and haled us ; I anfwered, and told
them who I was 3 they knew me, and immediately
fwam off on Board, and were glad to fee me,
and laid, ^bey all thought the little Boy and I had
hctn drowned y and fo did my Boy that I had left on
the I/land^ hut were forry to fee me in that itcak
Condition ; adding. That they ^wondered to fee me
come iftto that Koad^ efpecially in the Nighty for
ijhey jte^ver faw any Stranger ccme in there lefcre.

i told them, I'hat Jbadfeen the Peek over the
Port^ plain before Night ^ and that I remevdcrcd it
rvery ivell^ ezrr fince it 'was fljcwed to me when I
u'as at the Ifland before.

One of them fwam afhore, and brought mc a
Cag of fweet Water ofl^ which I much bn^cd and *
wilhed for ^ the Water at Bona Vijl being brackifn,
vnlefs a Man brought it down Six or Eight
Miles.

After they had flaid a little, and talked, they
fwam a(hore to their Conforts.

It held moderate clear Weather till after Mid-
night, and; then thickened, and about Three or
Four a Clock, it rained {o hard, that notwith-
ttanding the Sea that rowled in, and made a great
Noife beating againft the Rocks, yet we could for
all that, hear the Rain Water rnnnins; from the
Mountains, and felling down the iCocks v^k^

Z 4 ^5\i\\N.\

uU\\\ 1 1 .\llli thiuulcrcil and lightened very much,
Ml \\yx' \\\\\\\ ivmimicd ficlli Nonherly, and to
%\ \,n;;1iAo::S.I\%iK which turned the South-
NX, , S;i. ,^-v-. r.-jK^-^ *i V^^^' imooth Sea on the

\'-. -.'*'. \-i-iC.> •: ycir^up, and proved
j^ ..-- ' ■" . \ ■••^ ; TTi-vj^riri Gile at North-
^ - - • ** '■• -.— .i*.*. :\i.' iicuic V.'cither.

•» s • - :^.. ; vT; T^T- Z v^c zT.tdj and

.:rr.: Or-ihore

- ....v.\ J^-Ji ^ X:mh-Eaft-and-

•v.^^cr. :i rhc Port of P.;/'.:^l't :, it

V .-, -■ • , *v.-.: r:* knca* :: in ihe Xight ; I run

'v; r: :r.c Shrre, and now and then macs
:.^ • r- y.iT."tTs found ; for there was a Sand-
. : X .' - .-Iviit Haifa League fhort of P.r-.rZc :,

V i: .\/ou: Fo:.r or Five Fathom Water en ;:,
.'■■J. rciched aVo.": Haifa Mile off from rhe Rc-cki,

s.ui was r-ccut One foiir:h of a Mile I: r.g : Tr.y

I-«. .■• • * '11 ▼>. • . • . " X

coiild r.r.u 11, nnd as Icjii as Day brcl-:e cjr, :o
-;:"i to P.:-.' '": ^: B\' ^ocd Fcr::;:-:?, v::!i Cj.re,
1 fv-nd ii, :ind orcI.orLu on i: i:i I :ur F^rhir: ^

• t * ' * ' ■ — ^ -

. . * ' » • -• . - • ^ .

' . ^ »

•
• - •

• • •

■ * * •

% . • r ■ . . .

«^. .-•• --■.. ^ .%. ■^--

•f

I 345 ]

of the Iflanders would he dewn to exchange Mats
for Salt.

You muft know, that it being now the Turtle-
Seaicw, and the People o£ St. Nicholas catching
and fkldng that amphibious Creature, and ufing.
it more than any of thofe Iflands do ; and having
^ befides, no Salt Pans, and very little made on the
' Kocks y and thofe Rocks where that little is made,.
being (b difficult, as well as dangerous, to go
down, that very few of the Inhabitants care for
venturing, there being Two Men killed attempting
to go feek for Salt, while I was on the Ifland ;
All thefe Reafons made it a very valuable Gsm-*
modity on that Ifland at . this Time : And they
asked me. How I would difpofe of my Salt ? I told
them, Meafure for Meafure^ which they agreed to,
and all that had Com down, brought it on Board,
and fliot it on the Fore-Caftle, I haKng the Veflel
dole to the Rock, where it is Two Fathom and a
Half at Low Water, and at high Water, at ordi-
nary Tides, the Rock is about Four or Five Foot
above the Surface of the* Water, and flat on tha
Top like a Key, which the Inhabitants call Kaay^
and is a general Name they givQ to ail convenient
Rocks for landing at.

The Wind veering to the North-Ealt, the Sky
towards Noon beqanie over-caft, as it often i^
with the Trade Vind, and looked feir Weather-
like ^ but my Fear and Care being over, now I
was gotjnto a Harbour, ^c. \ found, that as
my Dangers decrealed, fo the Senfe of my Sick-
nefs returned, and what with the Noife and Cabal
of thoie People, Sc, I was forced to lie down :
The Boy alfo v/as ill, thougl^ nothing nigh fo bad
as I j and the Natives faid, ^.bat it was better ta
have tne afhotety where Imi^t have a Fire made
me in a Cave^ which was in Sight of the Boat^ and
have a Bed mjxde me of dried Grafs^ Slc, So \jn^

St Antmtio Man, whcMn I always found to be a
ienfible, careful, as well as an honeft, and afle-t
Aionate Man to mc, laid, ^bat if I pleafed to
tntruft bim^ be would take Care to meafure out all
tbe Salt^ and take the fafne Meafure of Maiz for
jw, as well as if I was prefent ; and that it would
l^e fftote quiet for, fne to be afhore^ wbere I migbt
haw a warm Cme to Jhelter me from tbe IV md
and Cold ; and bave a fir^^ and a good [oft Bed of
dry Grafs.

I toM him, Wbetber I went a^ore^ or fiaid m
Moard^ I was fo weak^ tbat J, muji trujl him - but
if I was never fo well^ IJhould not quejiion bis
yufinefs^ were it a Cargo: of twice tbe Value of what
J now bad.

The reft that were by, ^d- heard my Anfwer^
without asking me, or laying any thing to me,
took mte up, and carried me alhore to the Cave,
and got me a Bed of dry Grafe, made a Fire, and
would fain have made me Ibme Pap, but I would
not let them ^ I had a violent? hot Fever, and a
little after I was laid there, the St. ^ntonia Man
came and told me, fhe Forecafile was full of Com^
and a great deal on the garter Beck ; and if I
thought well of it^ he was of Opinion^ ti would be
better to put the reft of the Maiz in fome clean
Clefts or Hollow of a Kock^ till I tbougbt fit to
put it on Board. Adding, nat there was Maiz
enough down to purchafe all the Salt^ a7?d that
they might fboof tbe Remainder in the Hollow of a
Kocky and then he could meafure them out their
Salt^ and did not fear hut to clear the Boat of all
her Salt before Nighty wbicb^ if we did nctj be
was afraid a great deal would he wafted with the
Rain ; /or, be believed^ we fhould baie as mucby^
er wore Rain^ than we bad the former Night.

\^3.^

G 347 ]

I faid, if it turned to Kain again^ I mtch feared^
fue pould have a Soutb&rly IVind^ and then w$*
Jhoatd lofe our Boat.

He fitidj ^here was no Fear of that i for ewry^
hody^ and all the old People faidy h woutd be m
Northern Buiin.

I defired him to help me down to the Kaay^
.^md I would dire& to make the Boat as lecureljr
faft as poffibljr we could.

He laid. He would call fome to helphinr^ which'-
he did, and one t6ok me undgr one Aim, and^
another under the ocher^ and helped me dowA.

It beginning to rain fmall Rajn^ already, 1
n^uch £^red a Southerly, or Wefterty Wind,
which was- aU the Wind that could hurt me ; the
Blacks {aid, / need not feaf that^ and (hewing me*
a Sugai!-Loaf*like Hlft, called, Mmte Fradre^
told me, ^hat mifty Cap which the fop of it wof *
cohered witbj was^ nkeay^ a Sign if a. Northerly
IVindi and that all the Chuds. and Rain earned
from 4he Northern. Board • But be iP kow ft wouldj
ft was not in my Power then, to ojvsid it. '

\ told them, IVe tmfi truft to Gt)d for the JVea^
ther^ and Jill that could be done^ was^ to fecure-
awd make her^ as fafi as we could.

They laid), :Any thing that I bid them-j that they
couldy th£y would do with all their Hearts.

I told diefn to bring the End of the great Cable'
afhore (which was a Piece of a large Hawfer,
about Fifteen Fathom' long, which the J?r//?(?/ Cap-
tain gave me at Hona Vift'^ and I would fkew thent>
howy and where to make it f aft '^ which accordingly^
they did, and made it faft to a ftrong N6b of a*
Rock, and the odier End was made' faft on Board
forward, but flack, to he ready, if it fhoul*
blow, to caft off the Stern-faft, and let her*
fwing Head to the Wind, and lb ride between thev
Anchor, and the Shor©-hawfetu

[ J48 ]

A young Alan, who faid he had been taken
hff Captain Loe coming firom Virginia^ and fbme
Mondis paft, had efcaped from him at the Ifland
of St. Vtticenfj while Loe was there a cleaning and
vefitdng 1^ Merry Cbrifimas^ a Ship belonging to
Jjmdcn^ which he had taken coming from Virgi--
nia ; this young Man^ who told me his Name was
iSecrge^ and was bom in Bevmjbire^ faid. He
Wouhl lie in the Veflel all Night : I ordered them
to lave a Barrel of Salt, which I defigned for Pre-
fents to the Pri^ft, Governor, &c.. which they
did, and bartered all the reft of the Salt for Maiz,
and Ibme Fefhoons.

I was carried up to the Gave again after the
Boat was iecured ; the Boy, being better than in
Ac Morning, chcde to be with George on Board ;
and they brought moft of my Cloaths aihore to the
Cave.

About (as nigh as I could guefs) Eight of the
Cock at Night, the Wind veered to the South-
Eaft, and blowing and raining very hard, I came
down to the Rock Side, and made one of the
Blacks call to him on Board, to veer more upon
the Anchor Cable 3 but could not make him hear.
The Sea run \'ery high, and the Wind veered to
die South-South-£aft and South, and I was un-
cal>' becaufe fhe had fb finall a Scope of the An-
chor Cable out, and faid, I'be Boat would be loft
for want of veering Cable j for the Sea run fo deep
and hollow, that the Boat, with that ihort Scope,
could not play^ but fetched fuch JirJcs, that either
ibmething muft have given Way, or the Boat
have funk.

The St. Antonio Man hearing me fey {o^ told
me, Rjitber than tbe Bfilandra wbicb bad carried
us through Jo many Seas and Dangers^ Jbould be lofty
for want (f veering Cabhy be would try to fwim off
m £oardy come L^e^ cowc Death. ,

C U9 1

I'he Blacks that were prefent diflwaded him all
they could, telling him, S'bat it was impoJItble for
^ny Mortal to fwiin off in fucb a Sea ; and befides^
the Sea beat fo powerfully againft the Rocks^ that
it would be impoffible but that be Jhould be dajh*d
into ^ tboufand Pieces againfi tbeniy if be attemp'^
edit.

He laid. Had the Captain been fo kind to bim t6
bring bim bere^ and Jbpuld be be afraid to bazard
bis Life to ferve bim ? noj he faid^ it Jhould ne^tyer
be faidi and down he went to the Rocks £dge, .
and. watched an Opportunity of the finootheft Sea^i
and darted himfelf into it, and got on Board.

tt was not from the Kaay that he leapM, for
that now was overwhelmed every Sea j but did
Rock that he jump'd ofi^ was farther in the Bay^
and where he Jump'd frcmi, wasatleaft 50 Foot
above the Surmce of the Water. ■ .

Juft a£>re he jump'd in the Sea, a Sea walh'd
over the Bow, that frightenM George and the
Boy: I. heard the Boy cry out, though George.
could not hear me. As foon as the. Black got on
Board, he' told Georgs what I had ordor'd to do 5
but George ieeing the Sea all of a foaming Breach
a-Stem of him, and in the Night fiich Sights
leem to be nigher to one than they really are, was
afraid to veer any Cable, left the Boat Ihould
be in the .Breach of the Shore.

The Black told him, ^bat be could be in no
Danger. y for that the IVind blew right in on the
Beacby and^ that the Sea^ if any thing ga^e IVay^
would heave the Boat in a Manner dry up.

He had promised me before he went ojS^ when
he heard me wilhing my Boy was fafe aftiore, that
he would engage to bring him off fafe, whatever
befel the Vefiel, or elle tfiat he would not come
himfelf s and told George^ He would take Care of
the Boy^ &c. but all that he could utgi ot f^^ xs^

fSiBdrgpy (iotdd tidt pirevajl with tim to veer exit
Inch.

The Blacks from afliore cali'd to the Softt;

vrho were aniwerM bjr the Blade that l^am 60^

ThatMfibJl^^vlfry weU^ but (r^^f made An^xitrj^

. No^ it was ix^ wiry iiMrtf^ /m* ^ivj^ expend ^9Wff

Sea to he fitf'd. ».,,.,.

. My ^^m^^^'^exc^ watf \oF the Boy } mU what
Mth 6m i:!faii% ina aii^^ the 8eti& of my
Feverwa8^e5 bat 1 hJi^ fuch ia Weaknefi^ that
«eD my Ivigms or Ores could not affeft me & itt
fio overoomeJt $ and Itbuld not get up^ nor ^vMlk
erne Step,* ^withoiit bting iiif)^^
-:^ Tfa^Bkcks perceiving my Condtrn much ihor6
jbr die Boy dian for die Boat^ a$. indeed it was^
pot £> lauda matterif^ her ndw ; £:^ we were got
•n an lilibid, from whence we ttigbt Jii!ft{>e(ft 4
Deliverance, in as flimt al^lme, as froni any df
iSM Cape fy Vefd ItLwkds y the Blacks told ime, /
iteed not fear tbe Soy j for tbey were fure^ kt tbi
Balandra come off bm Jhe wouldy that the Bof
would be fafe.

: The Wind incfeas'd, arid -confequently the Sea,
which rowted right into the G>ve - and thoi^
tt^ere is an Ifland or Rock, \^faich you would think
might break off the Fury of the Waves, as be^
mg then right to windward of the Boat, and.
in finooth Water*, ^Pid above the Sur^ce of
the Water twelve or fourteen Foot ; yet now it
did not feem in the leaft to flielter, but the Sea
ieem'd to be rather worie by being broike, rowl*
ing in over the Rock, which very leldom noW
appeared.

At laft the Sea with the Wiiid irtcreas*d lb, that
one would think it impipffibie for foch a Veflel^
or even any one, to how out, or rcfift the raging
Porce of the Wind and Sea ^ which none can coil-
ceive, but thofe vrVK:>fc Tuoc CJ3t Itai^t fey Mb-.

i ^5« 3

fortune) it is t& be expos'd to th* taging Voras^
of thofe two Elements tcwjether. Sbon after the
Shore-faft gave way, and then (he fwiing off, aikl
rid in the Streiam of her Anchor, anid (eemM
to ride more eafy, and play with the Sea bet*
ter ; and rid fb about half an Hour, when a Sea
came foaming in, as tho' it icornM to be oppos*d^
even by the high mountainous Rocks iliec^ves,
jamd threatned to bear down all, as it were, before
it, and to us ieem*d to fivallow up the poor Vet
fd ; for we did not fee her for about the Space of
a Minute.

The Cbn&quence of it was, the Cable broke^
and thai S^ carryM her up on die Beach £f high,
that fhe lay tindifturb'd more than a Quarter of
an Hour. As foon as ihe came afiiore, they alt
got out of bet) and in the Fright run up this ^
Valley as high as the Rodcs would let thems
but when they recover'd from their Fright, and
law them&Lves iafe, they tetum'd down again to
the Boat^ which lay aU this Time quiet, as being
out of the Reach of the Sea ; Gear^ went oa
Board, and might have &vd ieveral odd Things^
Svhich I had pick'd up in the Time of Tny Pere-^
grination in her ^ but while he was in her, a great
Sea rowFd on, which was only the Forerunner of
a greater 5 for it only IhockM her ; biit lb fright-
en d George y and perhaps it would have done the
£une to any other, that he made all the Ha&e out
he could, and brought nothing with him but a
Bottle of that Wine, which my Friend had giveil
toe at Bona. Viji.

As I faid, that Sea that Ihock'd the Veflel, wa*
1 Forerunner of a greater ; for prefently after
George got afliore out of the Boat, a Sea came
that ftav*d her all to Pieces ; the Blacks that were
with me went down to them, and gathered all the ,
Pieces of Boards, and what elfe the^j coxJA^ ^^ax

tiie Sfca h6ve. on to die Shore ; an4 one of thenl
brought the BOy up to the Cave to me, where we
remained till Morning.

I was.as wet all Night, fitting on the Rock M
behold the Boat, with the Rain and Spray of the
Sea being blown up by the Violence of the Wind,
as if I had been come out of the Sea ; and it
4oubtleis did me k great deal of Harm, and per*
haps was one great Cauie of that long and tedi-
ous Sicknefs, which hddme till after my Arfival
in England^ and was a principal Cauie of my
having Leifure to write this Hiftory.

As loon as Day broke out, by which Time the
Weather began to clear up, and be more modc->
rate,.tho' a great Sea ftill run, I could behold the
Ruins of my Eight (I might fay Ten or Twelve)
Months Labour, lying piled up on the Shore.
With the Help of tome of them, I was carry'd
down the Rocks, and view'd what was favM,
which was moft Part of the Wreck, fbme Pieces
of the Sails, one of my IrOn Pots, an Ax, Saw,

They told me. It was not propef nor fafe for
one in my Condition^ to be there exposed to the Cold
and Wet^ and wijh^d what I had already fufferdj
did not prove of ill Confequence to me ^ and that it
would he better for me to go to ^own^ and take Care
of myfelf^ and fee and fell the Remains of my
Boat^ &c. which they beliei/d fome of the Country
People would buy to make Doors^ &c. for their
Houfesj and bid me not fear that any body would
be fo barbarous^ as to wrong me of the leaft Bit of

mod.

I told them, / did not trouble myfelf about tbat^
as not being worth my taking Notice of: All that I
was concerned at^ at prefent^ was^ how the little Boy
and I Jhould fubfift till a Ship came here^ wherein

ImigH

r 353]

t ^/^^^ g^^ k P^jf^g^ to my own CouHtfy^ or to forU
other Part 'Sabere Ships more frequently trade.

They faid. As for thaty I need not fear hiA
what I Jhould meet with as ff>6d Entertainin^nt as I
did at St. John' J, facing, that they bad not fucb
Plenty ofFleJh i But the Governor ^ &id they, nevet
wants Goats Flep^ and if you pleafe^ we know yoti
may he welcome to lodge there ; but let me lin)e with
\xjhom I wouldy they faid^ they were fure that hi
would always fend me wild Goaty more than I eould
eat.

I emitted to acquaint the Reader, that thd
Prieft who was on the Ifland when I was taken
by the Pirates,, was exchanged, and another, whd
anb was lent from Portugal y plac'd there by the
Bifliop, ^ho had touched here before he touched
at JlSona vifty and he was with the Bifhop there^
and very glad to fee me, and gave me fomc Clodths^
and two Dollars in Money, and a Rug, a Pillow,
and a Oun, which he had oif mihe along with
him, when he was alhore at CurrifaL when the
Pirates took me ; arid alfo a Letter from him td
the Padrij who fucceeded him at St. Nicholas ; he
alio procut'd a Letter from the Biihop to the two
Fradre*s who were at St. Anthoniay and goVern'd
that Ifland for the M3X({\xq& des MinhaSy in Cafe
I touched there, to do me all die good Office*
which they could 5 both which Letters they
brought me with my other Things^ when I wai
carry'd alhore out of the Boat.

There wis one of them that was dowri^ had an
Als, and offerM it to me to carry me up, and told
the, / had beft get up b^for^ thic Sun rofe • too high 5
hthefwifey as I was fo weaky it would make me
wery fanaipo to go up in the Heat of the Day. He
i^dded, ^hat if no othet Affes came down,^ . they
would mdkejhtfi and carry the Boy up after me : So
I llrai; tiidunted on the AJ^, and thxt^ ot ioxxt ^c^

, [?54]

company 'd me up, and one or more ran np to
Town before, to give the Padre and Governor an
Account of my Condition, and alfo of my com-
ing up.

I was met on the Way by Singore Nicbolan
Gonfalvoj with whom I had been acquainted be-
fore, whofe Father had been formerly Governor
of the Ifland : He was fbrry f9r my Lofi, I be-
lieve, with aU his Heart, and teftify'd fb much by-
his Tears, and obliged me to promife to live with
him till I had an Opportunity of meeting with a
Ship to carry me off the Ifland.

When I came up to Town, I rid diredUy to
the Governor's Houfe, who had made Prepara-
tion to receive me ^ and as foon as the Prieft heard
I was come, he came diredtly to welcome me to
Town, as well as to condole witli me in my Mis-
fortune. I told them, / thought the great eft of my
frefent Misfortune was^ my want of Health -, and
as for the Lofs of the Boat^ or any thing in her^ I
accounted it as nothings fhe hanging alreaay anfwerd
my Dejtgn in Building her^ which was only to bring
me off of that lonejome Ifland^ where feldom any
Ships came^ to fome Part where I might expeH to
meet with one ; and hoped I was as likely to light
of one here^ as any of the Cape de Verd Ifiands.

The Prieft faid. He hoped I fhould : ^bat as
for his Part^ he was a greater Stranger to the Na-
ture of thofe I/lands than I was^ being but lately
come from Portugal 3 but bid me reft affurd^ that
during my ft ay there ^ I fhould want for nothing that
the Jftand afforded^ or was in his Power to do for
me 5 and that he had often heard his Predecejfor
Padre Duego talk very refpeSifully of me ; and as
I was in the Gpuernors Houfe^ he would not af"
frmt bim fo mufh^ to ask me to go and live with
bm.

The

C35n

l*he Governor faid. He MpeEied me to liwmtb
bim^ while I remained on the I/land.

I told him, / muft beg him not to take it amifs 5
for not having any perfonai Acquaintance with bim^
nor the Reverend Padre^ J had already promised Sin--
gore Nicholau Gonfalvo, my old Acquaintance^ to
live with him.

The Govdrnbr laid, Singore Nicholau was a
good Man ^ and fince I bad given him my IVord to
Un)e with bim^ which he was Jorry for, yet knowing
that Engliflunen are fo fixt to their Wbrd^ that they
will not be induced for any Advantage to hriak it^
he would not infifi upon perfwiding m to what he
by long Experience knew to be the natural Difpofi^
tion of all iny Countrymen in general^ and of me in
a more hfpecial Manner ; for be bad^ he faid, often
heard Singore Padre Duego praife me^ and fay he
believed I was one of the beft £ngli(hmen that ever
he was acquainted withy and wanted nothing to
Tnake me a Saint upon Earthy but to he a Cbriftian
Cmeanihg a Roman).

I told the Padre^ ^hai I believed I had a Letter
for him from Padre Duego, and likewife bad one
from the Bifhop for the Fradrc's of St. Antonio,
but did not know bow they could come by it.

H© faid. One of them was here at St, Nicholas
nowy and be would fend him to me^ and defir^d to
fee that Letter that was for him.

I told him, / had it not about me^ but Singore.
Nicholau Gonfalvo was gone down to Faraghefi, to
fetch up my I'hingSy ana as fo0n as he was come
backj I would fend it to him.

By this Time the Viduals were ready, and
brought to the Table, which were Fifli, Fowls,
Goats Flelh, Indian Corn Bread, Plantanes, Ba-
nana^s, boil'd Pombion, ^c. the Fowls were bak'd
in a Pot, and look d very well, and as brown as
if they had been roaftcd, and the Vtxwvfo^ ^xA

Aa 2 ,^>&v

Fifli were boird, there was alfb a Calamow, which
is a Calabafti cut in two, and ferves them in the
room of Balbns and Porengers ; and this was
brought to me full of Fifh Water, being reckoned
by them the daintieft Mefi they can give to a fick
or weak Perfbn ^ however, I could not drtnk oi*
fup it, tho* I put the Calamow to my Head three
or four Times without tafting it, becaufe I would
not have them think I flighted the fick Mefi.

I eat a bit or two of the Fowl, and after Din-
ner lay down on a Bed, which was on Piffpofe fet
up for me.

In the Evening Nicholau came up, and having
carry 'd all my Things that he brought up to hii
Houfe, he came to the Governor's, and acquaint-
cd me with what he had done ; and I took my
Leave of the Governor, and went to my Lodging^
from whence I fent the Prieft his Letter.

The next Day the Fradre came, and I delivcr'cf
him the I^etter, which I had for him from the
Bifliop 3 who, after he had read it, came to me,
' and took me by the Hand, and kifi'd it, and
laid, ^hat heJpelienfd the Singore Biipo never writ
fuch a Letter for any Man before ^ and ashid me
if I was acquainted with his IDuftriffimo in Por-
tugal ?

I told him, ^he Singore Bifpo knew m$ vefy
well.

He faid, He knew that hy the Letter -y and told
me, If I bad come to St. Antonio with my Balan-
dra, with nothing in ber^ I might have loaded her
with AlaiZj Fefhoon^ or any thing the I/land afforded^ •
and that gratis ^ and as often as I would 3 which he
reported almoft to every body ; and Ihew'd the
Letter to the Prieft and Governor, wherein was
an Order, that^they Ihould fupply me with every
thing that I wanted, which the Illand afifordcd.

C 357 ]

and charge it all to his Account, which made me
be, in a very extraordinary Manner, refpefted.

My Fever returned on me again, and burned *
and raged violently about eight Days 5 and after
that, Specially in the Night, I us'd to fweat cold
clammy Sweats, to fuch a Degree, that my Land-
lady one Morning, to try how much Sweat fhe
could wring out, wrung the Bed Cloaths, which
were Cotton, and flie wrung more than fiU'd a
quarter of a Canada, which, of our Meafure, is
about three Eighths of a Pint ; and doubtleft
there was more than that Quantity Ibak'd into the
Cotton befides, which, in my Opinion, was ex-
ceffive ; and it may be beyond the Belief of fome,
but I am fure it was Fa(5t.

After thofe {wearing Fits were over, I uled to
be fb weak for an Hour or two, that I could not
ftir, neither did I care for Ipeaking. I could hear
and apprehend diftindly what any body faid,
which before I made them fenfible of it, they
thought I was in fainting Fits, and fenfelels 5 but
when they found it was not lo, they were better
fatisfy'd.

I had dry Cloaths every Morning, and Ibme-
times, when I fweat in the fore Part of the Night,
which was but feldom, they ufed to fhift my Bed
Cloaths in the Night : My Landlord Singore iV?-
cholOM Gonfalvo had Cotton Cloths enough, hav-
ing the beft, and, I may fay, the only good Cot-
ton Plantation on the Ifland ; and as fbon as ever
the wet Cloaths were taken off, a Slave was fent
to the River to wa(h them, that they might be
ready to ufe when T had occafion for them.,

I was in this Condjitjon about a Fortnight after
the burning Fever left me, and then my Sweats
abated 3 and as they abated, which were very
gradually, my Strength a little ina-eas'd ^ but

A a 3 IrccoN^'i.

C;5n

1 recover'd my Spirits much iboner than my

Strength.

Either the Prieft, the Governor, the Fradre,
or one or other of the Inhabitants, \ifed to vifit
me every Day ; and when I was in my weak Fits,
they would never {peak to nie, only come and
look at me, and ask my Landlord, Landlady, or
whoever of the Family was in the Way, how I
was, ^c.

After I beg^ to be a little hearty, my Landr
lord ask*d me, IVbat I would do with th IVteck
that was fm)d?

I told him, H^ might do what be pleas d with it^
and [ufposd there could not be much of it lefty if it
lay down there all this ^ime.

He laid, He was fure there was not one Piece of
all that was fav^d diminijb^d j for the Prieft bad
chargd them all publickly at Churchy upon Pain of
Excommunication^ not to touch or take away the leafi
Bit oflfood^ or any thing effe^ and pronounced Dam-
nation to any one that would wrong me of fo much
as a Nail.

1 told him, If any of it would be of any Ufe or
Service to bim^ to take out as much as be had occa^-
fion for^ as baling mofi Right to itj and the refi I
would give to my Friends tvat I was nwjl obligated
fOj as be would advife and dired me.

He told me, / bad no Occafion to give one Bit

away to any body ; be could have fold it all while I

was fickj but was loth to trouble me then^ and would

not dijhofe of it without my Order : And withal told

me, ^bat the Pricji was minded to enlarge the Cboir^

and would have Occajion for all the Ulreck^ and

bid me try what be would give me for it ; and if

he would give any tbifig bandfome^ be believd it

would be my better IVay to fell it to bim altcgetber^

than have the Irouble to felt it in Parcels to the

People J and tbo I might make more^ yet it would

C 35? 3

he too trqfibUfome for me to go, down to Paraghefi,
every ^me that a Man came to buy a ^eftoon^s
worth of Stuff 'y and if I fleas* d^ he would firft tell
the Prieft about it^ and inform him that I was able
to difpofe of ity and that talking would not preju^
dice me now 'y and defird me^ if I fold it to bim^
to except a Piece which he made me underftand was
the Scorn y becaufe he wanted it to make a Ridge-
Pole for his Houfe^

I told him^ / wouldj and if there was any thing
wore which he thought he Jhould have Occafion for^
it Jhould be alfo at bis Service.

He laid, Noy he wanted only tbat^ and be would
not take it till it was valud by a Couple ofMen^ and
would pay me the full Value.

I tx)ld him, / would not take any thing of him^
and be was welcome to allj or as much as he
pleased.

He laid. If I would not let him pay me for it^ as
much as I could have for it of any body elfe^ he
would not have it ; but bid me fell it with the refi
to the Prieft.

To pleafe him, I was forc'd to lay he (hould
pay for it ; and he Ipoke to the Prieft about it,
who came to me, and after we had talk'd about it,
the Prieft laid. He did not know the Value of it ;
hut he would fend down two old Men^ who jhould
value it according to their Confcience^ and what they
valud it aty he would give me^ if I thought it
fufficient 5 // not^ I might difpofe of it as I thought
fity and he would give free Liberty for any one to
buy who had Occafion : Without which Liberty,
no body dared buy any thing that fhe Prieft bid
Money for.

As loon as the Prieft had bid two Men to go
down, and Nicbolau undcrftood who they were,
he lent to them to come and Ipeak with him at
his Houfc before they went down ^ wWch the^

Aa ^ ^A%

\

did J and my Landlord told them. So a^^ accord-
ing to tbeir Confcieftce, and 'value toe things to tb&
full Hearth ; for that it was publick Money that was
to pay for tt^ and therefore could fall heavy on no
particular body ; adding, that I bad bad abun-r
dance of Misfortunes^ and eniunerated as many as
he knew, £^r.

They faid they would confider it, and would
v^lue every thing to the utmoft.

When they re?um*d, and gave the Prieft an
Account, he came to me, and told me, ^hat the
tivo Men told bim that the utmoft of what all the
things 'xere worth was ten Dollarsy which be
tbougbt would not have come to above five ; but
fiuce they had valud it fo^ and the People were^
wiUingy it beijig tbeir Money that muft pay for itj
he being only Steward ; and confidering my Cafe^ h^
would not abate me any thing of that Price, tho^j
according to the Inventory they gave bim of the
Gccdsj be thought, as he faid before, it was more
than they were worth by one half

I told him, fheve was one Piece, which was my
Boom, that I would referve to tnyfrlf for a particu-
hrlTe. ' -

He Jook'd in his Inventory, and (hewM to me
where they had noted it by the Name of Ballan^
cun, which in their Language fignifies a Boom,
and wns rated a Doljar, and told me, Jf I kept
ti\Tf, I tKuft al\Tte a Dollar, and take nine Dollars
fcr tte Kcrijindcr,

My Landlord, who was prefent all the Time,
made Signs at me, for he durft not Ipeak, not to
a<ntrc to that.

I was not ceitain what he meant, but gave a
right gueli ^ and told die Prieft, J'bjt I would ccn^
fder cf it, and give him an Anfwer to Mcrrcw :
I Ic laid, /; was very well ^ and ask'd me. If I

Jbctdd

r.'

J^ould not he able to come to bis Houfe ? which wasr
not above two Stones-Caft Diftance.

I told him, / did not know hut I might ; hut if I
did^ it muft he in the Evening ; for in the Forenoons j
after my clammy Sweats^ I was fo weak^ that I
fould not walk acrofs the Houfe ; and towards the
Evening I recover d^ and was generally pretty
hearty.

He told me. He would wait for me in the Even^ •

ing.

After he was gone, my Landlord told me, I bad
aSled very well^ and was glad I bad not agreed with
him ^ adding, ^hat be would get fome of bis '
Friends to Jpeak to tf^e Priefi^ and reprefent the
Cafe to bim^ that I could fell the IVreck for a great
deal more i and that if be dud not huy it^ they could
not getfucb IVood on the Ifland as that was 5 (which
indeed was true) and that be Jhould not be able to
enlarge the Cboir^ unlefs be bought tbat^ or waited
till be could buy Stuff out of Ships when they eame^
here ; which would not only be uncertain as to the
S'ime^ but would alfo come much dearer ; and that
be would alfo fpeak to the two Men^ who bad been
fent to appraife ity who alfo were bis Friends^ &c.
All which he effedtually did ^ and told me, ^hat
the Men appraised the whole at twelve Dollars ; and
that I.fhould not abate any thing of that^ without
allowing any thing for the Boom^ &c.

Next Evening, when it grew cool, I made fliift
^o walk to the Prieft*s Houfe : My .Landlord would
not go with me, becaufe he would not give the
Prieft any Thought, that he advis'd any ways
jabout it, tho' he had been perfwading the Prieft,
as his Friend, to buy it.

When I came to the Prieft*s Houfe, he feem'd
to be indifferent about it : I being fore-advis'd,
did not much mind it, and was informed that he
was very eager of having the Choir vcAacc^^L, "V

[ J<5» 3

told him. If he did not think well of itj I could
fell it for a great deal more than he talked of

He lent for the two Men, whom, I fuppoi^
he afore caution'd what to lay : Whdn they came,
he ask'd them, IVhetber they thought in their
Confciences the things were worth more than ten
Dollars?

They feid, ithey had given him an Account
what they really thought they were worthy and every
body was willing I fiould have it j as likewif^ that
the Fradre bad told them all, that it was a mortal
Sin to wrong me: And^ without doubt, ^ontJnuM
tb^, your Reverence knows^ how that the Singore
Bilpo writ to ufe him as bimfelf At which I iayr
the Frieft wink at them, which made them hold
their Tongues.

He adc d me, How much I demanded for all the
Wreck ?

I told him, / would not make any more than one
iVordy which was^ that I would have 9000 Reas
for all of it J and that Piece that I mention d before
Jhould he excepted.

He laidj ^hat was too much. I told him, / ««-
derfiood it was not for his particular Ufe^ neither
was it at bis particular Charge ^ that it was bought j
which y was it either ^ be fhould have it for nothings
or what Price be pleased 5 or^ if the Singores of the
Jjland would accept of the Ubings^ J would freely
make a Prefent of them to the Churchy not as a R^-
compence^ hut as a ^efiimony of Acknowledgment till
J could prefent a better^ for the many Favours and
Kindnejfes I had received from them.

He laid, He thanked me ^ and^ for his Party he
expe£ied nothings neither did he believe any body
would receive any thing from me by Way of Reta^
liatioHy for any J^indnefs fhew^d me.

Abundance

C 5<5? ]

Abundance more of fuch Dilcourfe pafi'd;
and 1 told hijn. If they would not accept it as a
frefm^ according to my IViJh^ but that I muft be
obligd to take Money for itj I would have to the
Value of it J or not at all ; and if be thought well
of it J I Jhould be ^ad be would b^ve it ; if not^ I
aflfur'd him, / could fell it to the People for a peat
deal more than I askd him for it.

He told me, I Jhould find ^ great deal of trouble
in that.

I laid, / believed not '^ for J had as many fpohe t9
me already about it^ as would take it all ; and if be
did not think fit to haw ity I believed J could difpofe
of it all before to morrow at Noon.

He paused 21 while, and calM fi»ie of them that
wers prefent afide; and ^fter a little while re^
turnM, and laid. He would give me 9000 Keas^
but I muft not take the Boom ; for he knew^ he iaid,
/ could not want it for my own Ufe.

I told him. It was true ; but. I had promised a
Friend to fave it for him y and if he thought it was
not worth fo much without that Piece^ be Jhould^ if
jfe pleas'" d^ have them for nothing 5 but if I fold
them^ I would have no lefs than J told him for
them.

Well^ laid he, then youjhall have 9000 : (which
is twelve IJoUars, a Dollar being reckon d there
at 750 Reas) So we agreed ; and he told me, /
mght have my Money when I pleas'" d. I laid. It
was very wgll.

Some few Days after be pa/d me ; which made
ipiB richer than I had been for Ibme Years before ;
and I bought a large Hog for a Dollar and half,
and had it kill'd. My I^andlord would have had
me fold the Maiz and Feihoon which lay on the
Rock at Paraghefi ; but I told him, / would not ;
but bid him take what he bad Oicafion for^ ■ and
l§t the Poor^ or any that wanted tht fB^^ taH '^^

[ }<4 ]

He took, I bcliei'c, about the Quantity of five
Bufhels, the whole of what was laid on the Rock
being about forty or fifty Bufhelsj and then I
gave Liberty for every body that wanted, to take
the reft J which ipigbtily raised me in £fteem with
the Inhabitants, elpecially ihe poorer Sort.

I recover'4 my Strength a little - but prefently
after fell firft into a quotidian, dian a tertian
Ague, which kept me very weak 5 for ray cold
Sweats, which I had the latter End of the cold
or (baking Fit, came again ^ but no^iing to. th^
Excefi diat it was before. ' *

I thus pafi^d, or rather lingered my Time away^
till about the latter Part of October ^ when, to my
great Satisfaftion, I had News of an ^ngttjh Ship
being arrived at this Iflaqd, and that ffie anchored
in the Port of ^erra-PaH. It was late in the
Evening when I heard the News, and I immedi-
ately rdblv'd to go down that Night. My Land-
lord perfwaded me all he could to defer my Jour-
ney till the Morning, for fear of catching cold,
^c. but I was fixM in my Refolution y and while
he and his Son were gone to catch a Horfe for
me to ride down upon, to my yet greater Satis-
faction, I had a Letter from the Captain, brought
me by one of the Blacks, who was down at Terra-
Fall when the Ship came to an Anchor ; for as.
foon as that was done, the Captain obferving
People afliore, fent his Boat to bring off fomc of
them, or, if they were not willing, to give them
an Account what he was, and what he -came to
trade for, as likewife to inform himlelf whether
there had been any Pyrates about the Iflands.

Several of them went off in the Boat on Board,

who informM the Captain of me, as far as they

were capable of ; and when they nam'd my Name

he remembered me, tho* we never had had any

perlbnal Acquainuncc to^pther j but the Year.

C 5<55 ]

fcefore, at BoHa Viftj he fell into the fame Piratd
Hands that I had, from whom he heard of my
being taken ; and the Blacks relating ^o him, my
being Shipwrecked at St.yobn\ of my building
a Balandra there, and of my lofing her here^ •
i^c. he told them. He knew me ; and asked them.
If any of them would carry a Letter from him tome ^
they faid, IVitb all their Hearts ^ ib he immedi-^
ately writ to me, acquainting me of his Arrin)al^
his defigning to trade therefor Cotton Cloths^ Money ^
or what e^e I would inform him that the Country
afforded^ that would be worth his pur chafing ; and
that he bad^ he believed^ a very good Cargo for
thefe I/lands^ and referred particularizing^ till he
faw me^ and Jhould expeSi me down at the Port
i[(hmorroWj if I was able ^ that he heard from the
Blacks^ that I was not "very^ell ; but boped^ not
fo ill as not to be able to come down s that he would
baz'e come up to me^ but was afraid to leave bis
Pejfel ^ but if /found myfelf unable j he would w»-
ture up ^ but would rather , I could^ make any
Shift to get down^ for he thought I Jhould fooner re^
€over both my Health and Strength with him^ than
where I was s and de fired me to compliment the
Priefiy Governor^ and who elfe I thought proper ^ in
his Name ^ and either let him fee^ or hear from me
So-^orrow.

At the pefufing of this Letter, I deferred my
Journey till the Morning ;^but in the mean Time,
acquamted the Prieft and Governor, ^hat the
Captatft gave his Service to them^ and was come to
trade for Cotton Cloths^ and I could ndt tell what
elfe he would trade for.

They laid, If he brought any Cotton from Bona
Vift, they would willingly exchange Cloths for Cot^
ton i but they need not tell mc^ they faid, who
knew fo well the Nature and Produ^ions of all thefe
IJlands^ even better tban they did tbcm^i^^t^ tfcot

Cotton had been fo fcarce for federal Tears paftj thai
tbey believed hardly any would fell their Cotton
Cloths^ unlefs for Cotton^ for fear of wanting them^
felves.

I fbon had all the Inhabitants about me^ who
all wifhed he had rather been a Trader for Afles^
than Cotton Cloths.

Next Morning before Day, the Governor and
1, and feveral others, went down ^ the Prieft was
to come after he had iaid his Mafs, which is
every Morning in St. 'Nicholas Churchy unlefs Sick-
nefs, €^^. hinders; my Landlord, poor Man,
could not come, being lb bad with a Pain in his
Back, occafioned by a Wrench, and a Cold upon
that, that he could not (it an Afs, which gave us
both no fmall Concern*

We got down about Ten a Clock, having been
on the Journey about Eight Hours ; Capt. ycbn.
Harfooty whofe Veflel was a Brigantine aoout
Sixty or Seventy Tuns, faw us coming Time
enough to get afhore with the Boat before we got
to the Sea Side, and had got a Sail aihore, and a
Tent fixed.

He received us very courteoufly, and was glad
to fee me, as I was more to fee him there : After
we had talked a while about Trade, and 1 had
given him feveral Hints relating to it, he took
us on Board.

The Prieft came down about On« a Clock, for
whom Captain Harfoot fent his Boat. In the
Evening they went afliore, and fb to Town ^ but
I ftaid^ after which we had more Leifure to
talk.

I told him the Nature and beft Method of
Trading, ^c. fb far as related to the Difpofal of
his Cargo ; and he very kindly offered me my
Paflage, and what Entertainment his Veffel ajf.
forded, for me and the Boy, and told me the De-

C ?67 3

Cgn of his Voyage, which was to trade among the
Iflands about Two Months, and then run for the
Ifland of : Barbadoesy where he was to meet a
Ship to take his Cargo of Cotton Cloths from
him ; and told me, as I knew it very well my-
felf, ^bat isiben I got to that Ifland^ I might get dm
Employ tbere^ or^ if my Affairs required my gomg
homey I need not fear fometbing in my Way ; %ut if
hot J J was welcome to go home with bim^ if I jo
tbougbt fit.

, I thanked him, and affifted him with my Ad-
jvice all I could, and ferved as Linguift for him ;
£>r ndther he, nor any on Board, could {peak
either the Creole of the Iflands, or Portuguefe^
jeither of which, would have been fufficient to
trade with.

I could have put him in a Way to have pur-
.xhafed One thod[and Cloths, or more, at an in-
jTOnliderable Price 5 but as the Space of Two
Months, which was all the Time he could tarry
among the Iflands, was not long enough for that
Purpofe, I omitted to acquaint him with it.

He was relblved to tarry there Two or Three
Pays more, if the Weather did not force him
Away ; for though it be uliial for the conftant
Trade Winds to fet in before this Time, yet the
Scy promifed Ibme more Rain, the which would
probably caufe a Shift of Wind ; however, I went
up to Town, chooling a promifmg Sky for fair
Weather, he promifing me faithfully, that if he
was forced off before I could come down, that
iie would touch there again for me.

I went up to get my Cloaths, ^c. and to bring
the Boy down, and take my final Leave of the
Inhabitants s all which I chofe to do perfbnally,
becauie I could be ferviceable to his Affairs.

W^iik

[ 5<S8 ]

I

I had Ipoke to him about George^ and that I
believed he would be glad to work for his Paflagc
to get ofFthefe Iflands, and gave him an Accotint,
as far as George had given me : The Captain told
ine, That he had his full Complement of Hands,
and had no Occafion for any more ; but rather
than the young Fellow fliould ftay there, he would
give him his Paflage ; fb when I came up to Town,
I told George^ who ^med rejoiced at it.

I took my Leave of the Inhabitants, and the
Boy and I went down the lame Night, Geoi^&
following us the next Morning 5 as ioon as Cap^
tain Harfoot faw the little Boy, he wondered how
I came to take iiich a' little Child to Sea, who,
he &id, was fitter for a Nurie, than to do m6
any Service. ^ .

I told him my Reafbns for taking liinu as 1
have afore related , he commended me for it^
but laid. He wondered bow J could take Care of the
Boy^ and bring bim with me in fo many Difficulties ;
and that a great many Men would have left bim at
St. John's.

I told him, S'bat I tbougbt it Would- be an uth
cbrifiian^ as zvell as an inhuman ASi^ to ba^ve left
a Child fo^ to be brought up in a mdnner like aH
Infidel.

He laid, ^bat was true , but there were ^bou^.
fands that would have left him ^ knd ^d, ^bat t
Jbouldfind tt ^ery chargeable to get bim borne.

I told him, ]f I couldy I would get, bim barney
let it coft me what it wouldj at leaft to Bafbadoes.

Nay^ lays he, it will coji you nothwg for biiu to
Barbadoes, for you are as welcome to bis Paffage
thither^ as if it was your own Veffel. I retiimed
him many Thanks for his Kindnels.

When George came down, he haled the Bri-
gantine , Captain Harfoot asked me. If that was
the Man ? I anfwcred^ Tes ^ he fent the Boat for

r ^^9 1

Mrn ; and as Ibbn as he was brought on Boahd, 1
obfervM his Countenahce to change, but I could
not imagine the Reaibri ^ however. Captain Har-
foot fbon made me fenfible of the Reafbn of*
Georges Dejedtion of Countenance ; which was
this. The Year before, when Loe todk Captain
Harfbot at Bona Vifty this Fellow was on Board the
Pirates, and, it feems, was as aftive as the reft
in plundering and rifling j and Geotge perceiving
that Mr. Harfoot knew him again, it fb daunted
him, that he had no Courage to Ipeak. The
Captain, ais foon as he had recovered Memory
enough, to convince him that he was certain i£
was he, laid in a Paffion, Ton impudem rafcdlly-
Villain^ I admire bow you dare come to dsk a ^a'\)oUt
of we !

The Fellow look'd very deje^d, and told him^
Stbat be was a Prifonet on Board with tbe Pirates^
md was conjlrain'd to do wbat be did^ as not daring
to refufe whatever tbey thought proper to command
him.

The Captain bid him bold bis Stongue, aftd
tell them fo that knew no better ; and that if be had
7iot tbe Impudence of tbe Devil^ or bis Mafier Loe,
he would not come to ask him any Faivmr^ &Ci
Adding, fbat if he was fure to find a Man of •
IVar to put him ojt Board of before he went front
the I/lands^ be would give him his Pajfage to it ;
and turning to me, feid. If a Body Jhould take
that Villain on Board to carry him to Jujiicej and
Jhould mM atiy of his Brotbet Villains^ (meaning
the Pitates) a Man could expeSl nothing but Death j
and turning to George^ who to all this reply^d not a
Word, he faid, / will fend you ajhore again ; hut if
I meet with any of his Majefiy's Ships bisfote I leav^
tb^fe Iflands^ I will give them an Account of you^
and perfwade tbem^ all I can^ fo come and give yoU
a Pajfage to Tyburn j and hope e^$t loH^te b«at tl^

B b "jwt

[ 570 ]

JUafier Loe'j reccmng his laji Reward^ according
to bis DefertSj at form fucb Place.

He then ordered the Boat to put him afliore ^
and when he had done what he had to do there,
he weighed, and we run for Bojia Viji^ where he
tarry 'd four Days ; from thence we went to the
Ifle of May^ and tarry 'd two Days, and then pro-
ceeded to the Ifland of St. Jago^ and anchored in
Porto Praya^ where we met with an Englijh Ship
come from the Coaft of Guinea^ with a Cargo of
Slaves, Wax, Teeth, ^c. ho\xnA,ioT Lisbon. She
flaved at Cacbeu^ and was there all the Time of
the Rains : She was freighted by the Portuguefe
Merchants, and had been very leaky after her
Arrival at St. Jago^ infomuch, that they were
forc'd to take out ail her Cargo there, to come at
her Leaks, Ibme of the chief of which they
ftop'd, and nail'd lead over them. Their Car-
penter, and two Doftors, and above half their
Company, dy'd at Guinea. The Captain was fick
at St. Jago 3 but when we came in, he was reco-
vered, but yet weak, as was almoft all the re-
maining Part of the Company.

As foon as he underftood what I was, he ipoke

firft to Captain Ilarfoot^ about my Proceeding

with him to LishUj and defir'd him to fpeak to

me y which Captain Harfoot did, faying, ^bat tbe

Captain of tbe Guinea- A&» bad defirdbim to fpeak

to me^ that be ^xoidd he ^ery glad to have my Cofnpany

witb bim to Lisbon. Now^ faid Captain Harfooty

as I told you before y you are welcome tojlay on Board

with me tbe whole ^erm of tbe Voyage^ witb your

Boy^ and fare as you have done. Wfiich, I muft

lay, was as well, both for Eating, Drinking, and

good free, hearty, and ingenious Converfation,

as could be expcded in a Wooden World, and

in thofc Parts ^ and that be fhould be glady if ii

fuited wth my CQnwmcncj^ I isaoufef ^oceed witb

C 57' 3

hpt ; as well for the Sake of my Company and CoH^
n)erfation^ of which he was pleased to give an En*
comium, far above what it merited, as that^ hA
laid, be knew it would be a great Ad^vantage td
him in his tradings as I was fo tminjerfally acquaint-^
edj both with the Inhabitants^ and thetr Cufioms^
Languages^ Commodities^ &c. andth^ private Va^
lue of them among themfePvBs^ &c.

I told him, / was fo much obligd to him^ that
as long as I could be ferviceable to him for the
Voyage^ I would not leave hlm^ tho it was certain
that my Inclination^ as well as I believed my hite-'^
refi^ would be to get Hoine as foon as I could.

He faid. As pr Obligation^ he knew ?ione ; h&
thought it was his Duty^ as a Man^ and more efpe-^
dally as a Countryman^ and a Chriftian^ and Jhould
have expelled the fame from me^ or any other Man^
who had not put off Humanity. He would have me
confider 7ny own Intereft^ he laid, and tho\ as h^
ohfervd to me before^ my being with him would be d
great Advantage in his tradings and confequently to
the Voyage ; yet^ when he fitted out^ and dejignd
the Undertaking of this Voyage^ he had no Vieiv of
that Afflfiance which by my Misfortune accidentally
happen a ^ and therefore^ if my Defire of Interefi
was for a fpeedy Return Home^ as be believd it
needs muft, be defi/d me that I would by no Meani
retard it^ on the Account of fcrving his or hi$
Owners Interefi^ becaufe he doubted they wouli not
make me a fuitable Retaliation for my ^ime and
Pains : But withal., he would have me confider^ that
I was in a weak Condition^ and had an Ague every
Day ; that I had good frefh Eati7tgand good Drink
with him^ which tho I might have on Board th^
Guinea-ifcfow, yet^ laid he^ here you have a clea^ :
fweet healthy Sbtp^ there you have a Jiinking not-*
fome^ fickly one^ and weak-bandtd ^ which how lit^
th foevef a Man in Health might inattct tt^ -jet t^

B b 6 tK ViMk

a M^n in your Condition^ it mi^t it otberwife. 1
iiui lotb^ continued he, to advije yotL to any thing ;
/ *uoould bare you do wbaty you tbink mofi fuitable
to your Intereft^ neitber let any Obligation that you
may conceive lies upon you to me^ in tbe leaft hiafs or
fway you in your Determination. I thank'd him
for his Advice, and told him, I would ccHifider
of it.

The Captain of the Guinea-MM^s Name was,
Mofcs Durel^ of Pool in Dorfetjhire^ the Ship's
Name was the Merry-^bougbt : Mr. Lewin^ Mer-
chant, now in Lo?klon^ was one of the Owners^
and Air. Henry Gibbs in Lisbon^ Merchant, was
another, and the faid Captain had alfo a Part of
her himfclf.

That Gentleman came on Board loon after, and
told me, He Jhould be fclad of my Company in bis
Sbip to Lisbon, &c.

I told him, I would confider of it. So we
had no more talk about it then ^ but went aftiore
together, and din'd ^ and that Evening I had a
Letter came to me, from a Gentleman that was
going to refide at Cacbeu ; and next Morning I went
to the City, and lay there one Night, and retum'd
next Day to Fraya^ where I met Capt. Harfoot
and Captain Dure I : We din'd together at the
I^ieutenant's of the Fort ; and, in the Evening,
Captain Dure I invited us on Board him to Supper,
where we talk'd the Matter again. He ask'd,
Ji^bether I bad confider d of it as yet^ and hoped he
Jhould bare my Company.

I told him, / bad not come to a Kefolution yet.

IVell^ hit^ laid Captain jy^r/cof, Capt am Durclj
yen ougbt to confider tbis Gentleman bas bad a great
.Misfcrtiiue '^ he bas been a long time from Ho7}je^
jieitber bas be bad an Opportunity of bearing from
thence in fome Tears : Tou mufi alfow this Gentle^
man ivill he 'very JerTiceaUe to ^ou^ ^ccc being but

C 373 ]

weak-handed j hut hrjoever^ if be 'was not^ ft ill ive
ought to confider bis prefent Circumftanccs^ which
are fucb as we ourfel'ves are liable too daily ; aud
therefore we f]:)ould ufe bim^ as we would defire to
he usd in the fame Cafe.

Captain Durel {aid. As for offering Captain Ro-
berts IVages^ I fhall not^ as thinking it would be
unkind^ becaufe. it would imply a bringing a Man
tinder an Obligation of Duty^ which J neither re--
quire nor defire of him ; / only defire to ba^ve bis
good Company^ as well as Advice^ and do net doult
but my Owners at Lisbon, will make Mm a better
Prefent than I fhall at prefent mention or offer ; and
J wijh it would fuitj and I hope it will^ with his
Conveniency^ to go with me thither.

I told him, f would refolve him the next Morn-
ing > but withal, that where I wejtt^ my Boy muft
go alfoy for I would net leave him behind.

He {aid. If I bad ten Boys they fboukl he all_
welcome to go : So after the Conclufion of a
Sneaker, ^c. we parted ^ and Mr. Harfoot and I
went on Board his Brigg, where we talk'd the
Matter again, and then I concluded to go with
Captain Durel^ as being much likelier to get
home fboner, than by running down with Mr.
Harfoot to Barbadoes , ^id in Compliance to Mr.
Harfoot's Requeft, I gave him fiich neceffary Di-
rections and Precautions, as I judg'd might
be ferviceable to him in his Trading among the
Iflands, as well in di{pofing of his own Commo-
dities, as buying theirs ; with fome Directions for
finding and anchoring in the Ports, ^c.

Next Morning Captain Durel caU'd on Board
as he was going aihore, and we went afliore toge-
ther. I then acquainted him with my Refbluticii
to go with him 5 at which he exprefs'd Abundance
. of Satisfkdlion : We dm*d aihore, and Captain
Difrel lay aihore that Night •, Mt, H^rjoot ^xA\

Bb 3 ^^vx

C 374 ]

went on Board the Brigg, and Ipent the Evening
together, and till after Midnight ; and he being
defign'd to fail that Morning, with Thanks ren-
dered for pall Favours, and what elfe is ufual at
the parting of hearty Friends, we parted ; and my
Things being pack a up, his Boat put them^ with
my Boy and I, on Board the Merfy-^tbougbt ;
and P%Ir. Harfoot failed at Day-dawning the lame
Morning for the Leeward Iflands. *

We tarry'd four Days after at Porto PrayUj and
the Captain having engaged himfelf to go down to
the City, toj:ake in fbme Water-Casks there, and
the Remainder of our Provifions for the Voyage,
we weigh'd from Porto Pray a November the 15th,
and anchored at the City the next Day, about ten
in the Forenoon y and having fili'd the Remainder
of our Water, and got the reft qf the Negroes
Provifions in, we lail'd from Porto Cidade about
the 19th of NoveVitherj and ftretch'd away to the
Northward.

As loon as we were (hot clear of the Lee qf the
Ifland, we met with a Head Sea, which we head-
ed the more, by the Winds veering far to the Eaft-
ward. The Ship hourly increased leaking,inlbmuch
that we were forc'd to keep one Pump conftantly

foing. We had about 180 Slaves on Board, a
brtugnele Supercargo^ Scrivan^ and ^unnalbeer^
and Singorc Antonio de Barra^ late Governor of
Cachcu^ who, upon my Acquaintance with him,
went on Board us as a Paflenger to Lisbon ; tho',
before I went, he had relblv'd to wait another
Opportunity, by Realbn the Ship had been lb
leaky.

Voyage ;;/ tie Sfjfp^ and bad fe^n ber Bottom^ 'H'ere
th( b0 Judges,.

C 375 ]

He iaid. He was fure her Bottom was found and
tighty and that her Leaks were none of them below
the iVaters Edge.

The Portuguefe were all for going back to St.
Jago to ftop the Leaks ; but the Captain faid.
He was afraid^ if he put hack there again^ they
would land the Cargo there^ and would not put it on
Board him again , hejides^ there were no Carpenters
to be had there^ nor any thing eife : S!hat if the
Ijlands (meaning St. Nicholas^ St. Lucia^ St. Vin-
€entj Sc.J had any convenient Koadj be would ra^
$her try to find the Leaks at one of them ; and as
we could not be furnijh'dy either with Carpenters or
Stuff at St. Jago, fo we could do as much at one of
thofe Iflandsy as at St, Jago.

I told him, ^'bat was "very true ; and as for
finding a Koad^ I wouldj with God^s LeavCj if he
lie fir d it^ anchor him in a better Road by far^ than
my that he bad been at in St. Jago.

He ask'd^ If there was ff^ood and Water to be got
there. »

I told him. At St, Vincent there was botb^ and
^Ifo at St. Lucia , but ^twas difficult to get them on
Board,

He faid. He had beard a great Talk of St, Ni-
cholas'j being ofte of the heft of the Cape de Verd
Ijlands.

I told him, ^he IJland was well enough ; but
then the fame Hazard that he feard at St. Jago,
might as well befal him there ^ &e. After which
he relblv'd for St. Vincent.

We fetched in to Leeward of St. Lucia ; it
blew frefh, and we found the Channef between
St. Antonio and St. Vincent.^ a windy one, to beat
up j for which Realbn, we chofe rather to run to
St. Lucia^ and let go our Anchor in a fair clean
fandy Bay j but the Captain being a little fearful,
would not mn in fer wiough, but let go the An-

[r4l

-**r. -* *.c.r m^Tizxrtoo light, on the Edge of
^x' ^-^.^^ CVirM^crtiiDC was, to be very weak-
*' " .* ►-- vfsch was worfe, ibme of them
\ir";2e 3Ktf gnunbling, lazy, and unwiWing
^ ^ ^ -r-r Ilaw on Board of a Ship : And

^^'vf *» ^"^^ ^^^ ^^^ Anchor was gone, there
,^^' jriv cae Foretopfail handed, and that too
^ A 0«5^* ^^ Negroes, a Flaw of Wind came
^^ r^r ^^ Land, and what with the Sails not
^^j^-5^ ^srided, together with the Lightnefs of the
^ji^^if, the Ship drove off the Bank out of

rhcy were for veering more Cabie ^ but I told
I'bey had better heave the Anchor up 5 atd
/ Tb€y bad a ABnd to ride the Ship, they muft run
a on the Bank into four or five Fathom IVater.

I began to think: I was got on Board a Pirate,
for there was fuch (wearing, curling, ^c. that it
would have made a fbber Man's Hair ftand an
End y and I was too weak to be able then to do
much, having daily a Fever and Ague, and the
Captain, poor Gentleman ! almofl: in as bad a
Condition, having alio an Ague, tho' not fb fre*
quently. The Mate hove the Lead to found, but
we were out of Soundings : The Folks then fwore,
S'hey *would not heave up the Anchor ; or if they
did, they ivould not lay a Hand on any thing to work
in her y they did not know what the Dejtgn was ;
and a thoufand other fuch Speeches, attended
with thun4ering Oaths and Curies, fuch as Igno-
rance, joined with arrogant Sawcinefi, is wont to
produce 3 tho*, at the iame Time, it was the
Negroes that did in a Manner all the Labour.

The Captain could not, nor, I believe, any
body elfe, forbear being in a Paflion, tho\ in-
deed, it avaird him nothing ; however, the Re-
fult was, to take our Chance, and put to Sea
again, which accordingly .was done; and about

C 377 ]

the Latitude of between 24 and 25 Degrees North,^
it blowing a ftout frefh Gale, the Water increased
fb faft, that all Hands were call'd, both PUmps
mann dj and two Gangs fet to baling with Tubs
and Buckets out of the Hold ^ but for all that the
Water ftill increased.

I had then an Ague-Fit, and Captain Durel
ask'd my Opinion, and what I v/ould advife him
to do ?

I told him, ^here were but two IVays that 1
knew of^ to hm)e a Chance to fave bis Vejfel^ tho he
tni^bt fave bis Life by a Jhorter Run.

He faid. He thought it would he befi to run for
St. Jago, or any of the Cape de Verd I/lands that
we could fetch ; and ask'd me, If there were no
Harbours at the Iflands of Fogo or Brava, in Cafe
we Jhould not be able to fetch St. Jago ?

I told him, ^bere was a better Harbour by far
at the Ijle of Brava, than any he bad feen at St.
Jago.

Then^ lays he, / think our bejl Way will be^
to run for the Iflands at once.

I told him, / believ'd we Jhould not be able to
fetch any of them by fen^ral Leagues as the IVind
was ; for at our farting from the Iflands we bad
the Wind the common ^rade^ but it was now got to
Eafi and Eaft'by-Soutb.

He ask'd me then. What we mufl do ? Why ^ {aid
I, (for we had taken in our Top{ails already to eafe
her) we do not gain upon the Water which leaks
into the Ship^ but that rather gains upon us ; and
if we do not findfome Way or other ^ either to eafe
the Sbip^ or flop fome of the Leaks^ it ts plain
we muft go to the Bottom ; for that the Negroes^
who were the chiefs and indeed I might fay^ fole
Dependance^ as foon as they were tird^ or this
Fright over J or any fullen wilful Notion ' came in
their Heads^ would leave off both baling and $t<tn^

[ ?78 ]

iitg J and J faid I, // one Pump drawing would keep
the Ship free^ J doubt whether the Sailors would do
that^ .without the Negroes AJJifiance.

Captain Durel &id. He knew it to(htoo well^
}?ut could not help it himfelf : '^ — But what could
le do ?

Doj faid I, you mufi put the Ship away lashings
cr afore the IVind^ which of them will in your Judg-^
tnent eafp her moft^ and I will go down and try if I
€ an find ^ and flop any of the Leaks.

He agreed, and we put the Ship afore it, under
her Forelail ^ after which they gained upon her.
J feund out two large Leaks under the Timbers,
and chinch'd them as well as I could, and flx)p'd
the Current of the Waters coming in, in a great
Meafure ; fb that after we had got her to liidc, we
could keep her free with one Pump.
. We had another great Misfortune, which was,
the Sand Ballaft being wafh'd down through the
Cieling, every now and then fo choak'd the Pumps,
that we were forc'd to draw the Boxes to clear
them, and occafion'd them to want leathering,
ibmetimes once, twice, and oftner, in twenty-four
Hours.

After I had ftop^d thofe two Leaks as well as. I
could, and the Ship fuck'd, the Governor telling
me, Stbat if it had not been for me^ he would not
han)e 'ventured in the Ship ^ I told him. He could
not J with any B^afon^ blame me ; for if I bad
forefeen any Hazard^ Ifhould not have venturd my^
felf; but that I thought it more prudent noWj to re^
folve upon fomething fpeedily^ to fecure ourfelvesy
the Shipy and the Cargo.

He faid, As for the Ship or Cargo, it did not in
the leafi concern him^ attbougb, be believdj be bad
as gocd an Jnterefl in the Cargo as any (me Man ;
and {b I believe he had ^ But^ faid he, if there
be any Courfe to be taken^ why doiit yon and tie

Captain

C ^79 ]

Captain refolve upon that which you Jhall think tb$
heji.

I told him, ^be Captain was not willing to de^
termine any thing till he had confulted witb^ and
had the Concurrence of him^ the Supra^argo^ and
the reft of the Portuguefe Gentlemen^ who were iU'*
terefted in the Charge of the Cargo^ as much as be
of the Ship.

He ask'd, JVhy we had not call'd them together
hefore ?

I told him, We bad not ^ime till now ; for till
in fome meafure we had ftopp^d as much of the
Leaks as we could, and bad fucked the Ship, if
was in 'vain to confult, or refoPve to run any where 5
that now, thanks to God, we had freed the Ship^
and it was to le hoped, thd" not without Care and
abundance of Labour, wejhould, with the AJJiftance
of the Negroes, be able to keep her free, till we
could recover fome Port -, and he being the Principal^^
Captain Durel thought proper hejhould be acquaint^
edfirft, and, if he pleased, be might call the reft ;
who all this while, efpecially the Supra-cargo,
were crying out for their G)untry and Wives, and
commending themfelves to ail their Saints and
Patrons, wringing their Hands, ^c. He imme-
diately had them all call'd aft, Captain Durel and
I, in the mean time, having concluded to run for
Barbadoes, where I latisfy*d him that we could
refit the Ship, if capable ^ if not, he could there
with Eafe lecure the Cargo for half Freight.

We had fome Talk how he fhould raSe Credit^
he being utterly a Stranger there, neither he nor
his Mate having ever been in any Part of yimeri"
ca, except Newfoundland , and when they were all
come aft, Capuin Durel defir'd me to fpeak to
them, for that he thought they would be ^ler
perfwaded by me than by him ; which I did, and
propos*4 our running to Barbadoes, becaufe of the

Certainty of a large Wind all the Way, which
ivould much eafe the Ship, &c.

The Supra-cargo was altogether for going to
the Ctipe dc Verd Iflands. I fhew'd him the almoft
Impoffibility of fetching them, the Danger of
flraining the Ship with lailing upon a Wind, ^c.
jitsd fuppofing it wer^ pofftble to fetch St. Jago, (aid
I, you have no Anchor that isould bring y-:u up^
and only a fin all Tawl^ with which ycu could bjirily
[ave your Lives ^ much lefs your SLri:es^ your n'aXj
or any thing of the Cargo.

The Governor iaid. But is there na PUice that

tt'^ could run 'xitb a large IVind hut Barbadoes ?

I told him, IVe could run to Brafil, ^JUt rben rre

Jhould not be fo certain of meeting Cjipcaiiencies

there as at Barbadoes.

IVby^ laid he, they build Ships jJ * rr^ :/jd Bar-
badoes is but an I/laud^ I fuppcjf. ike :>. Jago,
&c.

I told him, It zcas truCy it's as r; ls:x*2* . 'rut I
doubted zchetber be could have an^ :>'*/r :: Lisbon
which zvas net at Barbadoes, excfS' z 5Li:r^ ./ ?.>
triarchy a Nolle man ^ and a Bifoiz.

The Gentleman fmil'd, nc^: vrintan-.iinir z:%
Dread and ApprehenGon of Dsripr* ir m^- Zx-
preffion ; and Ipeaking to rhe ." -n^ie i^ uiic,
irbat fignifies cur rsJiifjgj ::s J^rrs:' -i^ er r'je
C:rTj:n jrki Singore Rob^ms cyi j.r ^';:c'tJ=t — r j-
ckt iiijur'cing :li'7i : Hi srf t.t jir^ -- i^j}^ vr
only cxnfii} zl^t^i ; zh'ij iji:-z: l-^rrj^- -': r: ::;- —' ;- ;
and Js r>r .:fn rj^.-i.jr fec-^-f. iiiikrrr:^ ijcer-
tus c.:s :':e *Vj,f c*' j-i^ me in Ji.-r.:* :ir:,t:^j ;; -;^

They xU ignjeiu i":c rb; 5iicra-nr*r' jLiu* JS

C?«'l

t told them, / would not do any thing that Way ;
/ only deli'ver^d my Opinion of what I thought was
properefi, and fafeft^ but was to be govern d more
efpecially by Captain Durel'^ Judgment,

They faid. If I thought to go to Barbadoes was
hefij they all confented to it.

I faid. If Captain Durel thought foj it was my
Opinion.

He faid, Tes^ he concluded it to be the befi
Way.

Then I faid, / thought the Supra^cargo^ Scrivanj
&c. ought to Jign an Inftrument to teftify their free
Confent.

They fiiid. With all their Hearts ; and accord-
ingly one was drawn, and fign'd by them all ;
upon which we made {ail, to the great Satisfadion
d£ all, the Negroes efpecially ^ for as loon as they
came to underftand that we were going to fbme
Land, they hollo w'd, and (aid, fbey would ft and
by the Pump Night and Bay.

We run about three or four Days, having
fbmetimes light, fometimes taut Gales ; another
Leak breaking out^ Ihe made fb much Water,
that We fear'd we fhould not be able to keep her
from finking: We went down in the Hold, and
at laft heard the Leak, which was right againft
the Well, on the Starboard Side. We cleared
away, and cut the Ceilings and it proved like the
other Leaks under a Timber. I much fear'd it
was a Butt ; but there being no Way to ftop it
but cutting the Timber away, nor no keeping the
Ship above Water without flopping it, we relbl v*d
upon the latter, by doing the former ; however,
I caird Captain Durel to fee it, and told him what
I thought, viz. that it was a Butt ; but withal,
the Impoffibility of keeping the Ship above Wa-
ter without flopping it : He gave his Conlent, I
cut, and with the Affiftance of a Frenc\) ^^^^

C58z3

^hich he got at St. J(^go^ we cut the Timbef
away. It prov'd a Butt, and was trunneJl'd. I
cut the Timbelr about the Truhnel, but let the
Trunnel remain. The Butt was wholly open the
iKrhole Breadth of the Plank, which was fourteen
Inches, and the Water cande in with as great
Force, as if it was an Engine playing. The But€
was feven Tenths of an Inch wide : I run my
Hand through to keep the Water out, while I got
Ibme Oakum to ftop it with i It look'd very
frightful, you could fee the Sea plain through it :
I got ibme Oakum in, and then I went to work
to fecure the Butt, which I did thus :

I obferv'd to you before, that I left the Trun-
nel {landing in the Flank, in which it was very
&ft: I notch'd it, and took a Lihe, and iilla
two Clove Hitches, with two Parts ot die Line^
having moused the Trunnel above the Clovcf
Hitches, to fecure them from Aiding, and having
feften*d the Line fb that I had four fingle Parts,
and a Noole, I lalh'd the Trunnel to a Bar5 as a
Port is ufually lafh'd ; then having two Screws,
luch as are us'd in Virginia^ to fix into the To-
bacco Hogflieads to rowl them with, from whence,
by our Sailors, they are call'd Rowlers : Thefe
Screws I fcrew'd very faft at each Corner of the
Plank End, and lafh d them well into the Bar, fb
that I believe the Butt End was as fecure, as it
was before I cut the Timber ; after which I could
venture to drive my Oakum tight ; on that I laid
Oakum and Tar, and on that a Chock of Wood,
fecur'd down with Battings nailM over, ib that it
was fb tight you could fcarce perceive it to weep 5
after which our Ship held it bravely, confidering,
till we got to Barbadoes ; but a little while after
the flopping of this Leak, we had another Mis-
fortune, which was almofl as bad as ouf Leaks,
which was, the v?awx o£ TJwtk^ N^Us \ for the

Sand working up in the Pumps, fo tore the Lea«
ther, that before we had run half Way to Bar^
hadoesy our Stock of Nails was expended, and
they were at their Wit\ Ends ^ for it would have
been almoft impoffible to have kept her free by
baking alone without the Pumps ; I remember'd
I had fcen a Contrivance on Board of a Frenchman
to make Canvas ferve in the room of Leather }
our Neceffity oblig'd us to improve that Contri-
vance, for they us'd Nails, we had none to ufc :
I did at length contrive fb, that we fix'd the
Soxes to work without Leather or Nails, except-
ing the Clappers 5 and our Canvas Bags did ex-*
traordinary well, and delivered as much more Wa-
ter, as when the Boxes were leathered ; but it de-
ftroy'd a great deal of Canvas, which I believe
was owing to the Sand which work'd up in the
Pump, and cut and fretted the Canvas.

We got to Barbadoes^ and anchored in Carlijje^
Bay Chriftmas'Day^ i7M • We were forc'd to
land every thing, add hove her down, (hified be-
tween two and three hundred Foot of Plank, flie
was fb eat with the Worms.

Captain Durel had a fore Fit of Sicknefs, inlb-
much that it was thought he would have dy'd ;
but he recovered, and was able to go about his
Bufmefs, by the Time the Ship was fit to take
Ballad: in again.

In lefs than three Months after our Arrival we
fail'd ; (he held pretty tight, tho' we met with
very hard Gales about the Azores.

We put into Vigo^ and lay there for a Wind for
Lisbon about a' Fortnight, and then a fair Wind
prefenting, we faifd, and arriv'd at Lisbon^ where
I took riie firft Opportunity of a Paflfage for
London^ which happened with Mr. Alexander Box--
ter^ Matter of die Pricket^ a Brigantine, who ge-'

/

I

\

[ 5«4 ]

fteroufly gave both mc and my Boy a Paflkgc tcJ
London^ where we arrivM towards the latter Part
of June, 1725.

My Ague had followed me as a conlbmt, tho*
unwelcome Attendant to the Ifyt Indies, and
from thence to Lisbon^ and about the Middle o£
the Paflage between Lisbon and London it left me ;
but after my being about a Fortnight afliore, it
i^eturn'd as bad as ever, and brought iile fb low,
that I was uncapable of any tiring but \irritihg •
which, by the Perfwafion 01 fbme Friends, I im-
dertook, and, by the BlefHng of God upon the
Medicines adminiflred, I recovered my former
Health j but having then gone through a great
Part of this Hiftory, I refblv'd to compleat it,
aiid found the doing of it much more tedious and
pkinful, than at firft I imagined it would be ^ the
which Ignorance, with my Incapacity to go abroad
when I began it, were the only Inducements to
comply with the Perfwafions of my Friends, as I
mentioned before.

And now having kept pretty clofe to the Hifto-
ry of my own Adveiitures, and the various Inci-
dents and Providences which befel me in the
Courfe of my Voyage to thefe Iflands of Cape de
Perd, I think myfeif oblig'd to prelent the Reader
with a more particular Account of the Nature,
Situations, Productions, Manners of the People,
iSc of thofe Iflands, which I obferv'd while I
was among them as a Traveller, and as I may
lay, an Inhabitant , as alfb by what I had for-
merly obferv'd when I had traded thither, toge-
ther with what I could colleft from the Inhabi-
tants, which I thought I could depend upon for
Truth, and was material to my Purpofe; and
which, for this very Reafbn, <viz. to give this
Account all at oucc at the Condufion of my

[385]

fiook, I fcrbore Co interJperfe in the Coucfe of* ic,
becaufe 1 would not break the Thread of my
Narration : But as thefe People have riiany con-
fus'd Notions, confifting of a Mixture of the
Guinea Traditions, brought from thence by their
Forefathers, and die too-too common Komsjh Le^
gendary deluQve I^racles, t Ihall omit moft of
£2ch Fopperies, as being no Ids tedious to relate,
than they would be impertinent to read.

c«

A DE-

[,86]

DESCRIPTION

OF THE

Cape de Verd Islands,'

HESE IHandswere fifft difcovered
by ■ the Portuguefe ; but I could not
learn fi-om tlie Natives the cxad
Time, nor fcy whom j but there wei"e
then no Inhabitants on any of them,
nor Cattle of any Kind.

The Portuguefe fettled firft on St. Jago, which
'■ is not only the largeft of all the Cape de Verd
Iflands, but the moft fruitful : from whence, in
procefs of Time, they Peopled moft of the others j
ibme of which, they were forced to quit again
for want of Suflenance, occafioned by extreme
3DrotightS, and want tn 'Rain, which rendered
them fo barren, that of-late a great many Souh
were familhed to Death : This Drought has con-
tinued for clus Sixteen or Seventeen Years at Bom

m.

C 387 ]

r?/?5 and the Me of May^ and longer at the Ille?
of Sal i and none of thenfx of late have had the #
rainy Seafons fo kind as formerly 3 but the high
Lands have always the moft , and the Natives will
tell you. That the Mountains draw, and gather
the Clouds together, ^till they are fo ponderous,
that the Air being unable to bear their Weight
any longer, they break and fall down in Rain ;
but the low Iflands, liich as Sal^ Bona Vtfi^ May,
&c. not having fuch high Mountains to detain
and gather the Clouds together, they blow over,
which, they lay, occafioned the Drought there,
more than at the other Iflands.

The Portuguefe^ who firft fettled on thefe Iflands,
and particularly on that of St. Jago^ had Slaves
from Guinea ; and, as it was an ufual thing with
them (and is continued to this prefent Time) when
a JVian or Woman died, to fet one or more of
their Slaves free, which they do as a meritorious
AA of Atonement for their Sins ^ and the Climate
being more agreeable to the Conftitutions of thofe
Blacks, than to the European Portuguefe, they in-
creafed rtiuch £after, and found Means to get
themfelves tranfported to the neighbouring Iflands,
where they could live more free from the Op-
preffions of the Whites, who ufed them after the
Spanijh or Portuguefe proud and lording Manner,
which did not fo well agree with thofe but lately
nianumitted Blacks 3 and as they improved irf.^*
thofe Iflands, feme of the Whites fettled there,
alfo ; but after the Trade to Guinea, and the EaJ}--
Indies, became common to other Nations, and the
Portuguefe Trade declined, and dwindled away,
as at this Day, to a Trifle, to what it was at firft ;
the Blacks all the Time increafing more than the
Portuguefe yxhty claimed an equal De^ee of Liberty
and Freedom with their Mafters, who thereupon
jijoftly returned cither to St. Jago^ or to Portujal -^

Cc a Mw^

r 5S8 3

;-c rvtTf thar rcnjained, ^crc both poor, and
fr-r . 2.Tv£ -a-rrf then neccffitated to allow rfie Blacks,
-t -cc r."* -^ rnt:r fuprriors, ycr, at Icaft, to be
r?«T Ic8u£ j • and Sjarrxing Txjth them, the iiic-
cXX*«i.:k C-cr^critrns became by that Mixture,
r-.">T \U J£r^e>. ?:> Copper-coJonred Nezroes ; fo
rrj.t r^'i ycc {r\L^ :re as great Variety- ol Kcgroes
jr. :r.,"^i> llandj. as is jDntained on the whole

t^^^ ^ Z' ■ . -

T rye K i£ .-:: T-^-^i^rs' ciarning ibcic lilands br
Ks£::t c^f rr-f: r»yjr%crr, sf foon as be foxzn^
r^. rr.::s inhiLbrrei. zz^'Z rhem to ibdi of xm
Iorw>. a.^ .-^e rh.v^hr £:, cxcepring St fac^o^ and,
of ;are, 5:. Tl'.lrfi^ v hich ^c gcvemed "by Mec
rarr:?r: ?n::ei ry r^im, who arc comnionh" Portih

'«L"?r :.< c^r:.f?ci V .r- nf Tirif of General Govcr-
Tt:r .V £.; irr J/sr .v "/r l-.":2ni^.. and rhe Coair

TxVc 1 .vj^- 7:: 1 Sr.vj: .'C Crv; and Griat? on

Xc-TH!^ ru- Mtr rjr Prver .-^: punifning ^ eithff
in F.or* l..rr,r^ .t r»££rr. . me Gr-rcmor of S:
'^.;r :^-''" r*i---n£ rni: Trv^^cr. m: ::nce tk
T/iLr:.!r.Tr5r: nf :r>i C^-^ ofar. ^t-.j.-^, which
•-- t:\"^ tr*^ "j-iTT^ ^':rr. :."*? ^ uttirei or Afnze herr
:- y-rc-** . -"-^ -"''- y^j"^"^ ii ^ri:il y lodged a:
r •-, a- V; ::- rru lr.:!"^t^i:.^7. and Man:i£remcnr cf

^*i, ♦v x * ' *.: "-■ "r: much 5Yor

>. .^, j..-^-.-- ?-• ♦'^ - ^'^.':^_rr2d:^^ trai
^.^ -r^r —'•-'. Ptt^^-'.^-^s r -;. ,.2r: of5«w;

n*' r crdncaxvoTi en. ^^v ^^^ ^ct«rc,/^«pl*^I

JdgOy and St. Pbiltp\ and on them, none of
any Strength, except that at the City of St. Jago^
which was built by the Spaniards^ when Portugat
was fubjed to Spain ^ neitner is the King of Por^
tugal at the Charge of keeping any Soldiers to de-
fend them, the Natives being obliged to ferve in
their refpeftive Iflands, but not out of them,
which is all the Acknowledgement they pay to
the Crown ; neither are they able to pay any other
Taxes. And this may lerve for a general Account:
I (hall now proceed to a particular Account of
each liland.

Sa^/

s.

Of the IJle of S A L.

THIS is the Windwardmoft of all the Cape
de Verd Iflands, and fituated in Latitude
17^-00' North, and Longitude 5^-18' Weft,
from the Cape de Verd. It is pretty clean all
found, having no Shoals nor Rocks, and affords
pretty good Roads to ride in, except in the rainy
Seafbn: The moft noted whereof is Palmera^
^hich IS alio the Town, and makes, as it were.
Two Bays, there being a Rocky Point in the
Middle.

This Bay lies on the Weft Side of the Ifland,
and is eafily known by Three Palm Trees which
give Denomination to it, and are ftull ftanding
ther^ and the only ones on the Ifland.

c c 5 'axvo!^

C 391 ]

catch and cure the -fame ; whether he was put
from his Anchor by Strels of Weather, or by
what other Means, they could never hear j but
he left them there, and they having nothing elfe
to eat, fed moftly on wild Goats, 'till they had
deftroyed them all but one, which Is now on the
Ifland, and is an old He-Goat, and moftly keeps
upon the Northern Mountain : They killed ajfb
moft of the Cows, and were at hft forced to eat
: Afles ^ and fb they impoverilhed the Ifland of its
Cattle again.

After they had continued there about Six-
teen Months, an EngUffo Ship, bound for the Ifle
of May^ to take in Salt, feeing the Smoak of
feveral Fires which they made, fent his Boat
afliore, thinking it might be fbme Ship's Company
that was Ship-wreck'd on the Ifland • and under-
flanding who they were, ^c, took them all in,
and let them to their own Ifland of St. Antomo 3
and this I was informed of by one of the faid
Blacks.

When I brought the Blacks off. Anno Bom.
1722, there was then, as the St. Nicholas Blacks
told me. Nine Cows and Bulls, and that old He-
Goat above mentioned, which they had leveral
Times feen, and a great many Afles ^ but not
nigh the Number that was before the Drought.

At prefent the Ifle of Sal yields nothing of Ve-
getables for Food, five a little Feflioon that was
fown fome few Years ago at Palmera in the Valley,
which thrives there very well : They ftied in
OSiohcr or November ^ and the Ground in the Val-
ley at that Time being foft, they lie till the
fpringing Time, and then fpring up again, and
laying hold of the adjacent Silk Cotton Trees,-
they climb up like our Hops in England^ and are
fit to eat about Augufi ^ the Silk Cotton Tree,
you may find very exadly defcribed Ipy Captain

C c 4. Daw^ut -^

Dampier j but I do not know of any Ufe it fcrvcs
for, favc, that in the Iflands of St. jug^^ St. Pih
lipj St. Nicholas^ the Ifle of May^ ajM St! .^to^
nio y they fill Beds of it, as we do with Feathers
in England ^ arid it makes the bcft Tinder of any
thing that I know of in the World ; and the
W' ood makes a quick, but not a durable Fire, and
when well dried, by Friftion will fiiddenly take
Fire.

The Dates that are produced here, are as good
as any on the Coaft of yljrica ^ but there is but
one of the Three Palm Trees that bears Fruit.

For about a Month after the Rains, diere is a
running Brook of frelh Water in the Valley of
Patmera j but then it dries up : However, *till
after Ctriftmas you may commonly get frefti Wa^
ter there, by digging a Well a Uttlc above the
Palm or Date Trees.

There is abundance of Land Crabs thereabouts,
like thofe in the IVefi^hdUs, I (hall lay nothing
in this Place concerning the Turtle, and the
Manner of catching and faying it, referring my
Reader to what I have mentioned on that Head
in mv Account of taking the St Nictclas Men off
this tiland, irz2.

Ail about the Ifland, abounds with many Sorts
of Fifli ; and one Sort, by the Blacks railed A&4r,
being about the Bigrids of a Cod, but thicker,
and much flatter, aiKi will take Salt, and cure as
well as Cod ^ where, I am fure, a Ship might get
a Cargo of Fifli, much Iboner than they could at
Xea'^foufid-LsBd ; and, for ought I know, might
do as well to &\lj elpecially at ^eneriffdy and be
CAught widi left Charge, Salt being fb nigh 5 and
a Man might have Blacks from St, NtcboJasy or
St Anta::cy^ who are verj- dextrous, both at catch?
ing^ as alio at Iplitting^ ialting, and curings t^
well Fift^ as Turtle,

O?

C 395 3

Of the Ifland of BO i>l A VISTA;
or, GOOD SIGHT.

SO called by the Portuguefey becaufe it was the
firft of die Cape de Verd Iflands difcQvered bv
them. The Body of this Ifland lies in i6^- lo' N.
Latitude ^ and in 5°- 14 Weft Longitude^ ttota
the Cape de Verd on the main G>ntinent of Guinea ;
its Length die longeft Way, which lies Souths-
Eaft, and North-Weft, is Eight Leagues, and
Breadth, North-Eaft and Soiudi^Weft, where it*3
broadefl:, about Fifteen Miles.

This Ifland, about Thirty or Forty Tears ago,
was fiippofed to be the fertileft of all the Cape de
Verd Tflandi, for Cows, Goats, Hogs, Hories,
Afles, Maiz, Pompion, Fefhoon, Water Melon,
and Potatoes ^ of which laft Sort, I heard an old
Man relate, that about Forty Tears ago, the Go-
vernor of Bona Vtft^ among ibme other Prefents,
wluch he fent by an Engtijb Ship diat loaded Salt
there, and was to touch (as moft Ships do that
trade in that Commodity) at St. Jago for Water,
lent a Potatoe of that Bignefi, that I thought in-
credible i but the Simplicity of the Relator, as
well as that he had no Inducement, that I know
of, to move him to ftretch it ferther than die
Truth, makei^ me apt to believe the Reladon ;
which was. That the Potatoe was fb big, that
they were forced to fling it with a Rope, and two
Men to cany it on a Hand-^ike^ as Broweri
cany ;a Barret of B^.

[ 394 3

But at this Time, there are no Potatoes grow
there, and very little of any thing elfe • the Cows
are likewife aU deftr^ed, except about Forty,
which belong to the Lord of the Soil, who was
the old Marquefs das Minbas ; but iince his
Death, 'twas gi\xn by Ac King to fpme other for-
tu^uefe Nobleman : Bnt fince thi^. Captain JMist-
nnel Domiftjp got an Engltjh Ship to bring him a
young Heifer, and a young Bull, which he bought
of hmi J and when I was laft there with Captain
Hjrfcctj be told me his Sfqd^ was iiicreaied to
Seven.

Moft of the Inhabitants have Goat^ ; the Milk
of which, fince the Famine, is a grea^ Part of
their Suftenance, as Fi(h and Turtle are another ;
their whole Dependance for the reft, is on Englijb
^Ships that come there to lade Salt, who often
times hire fome of them to work in the Salt Fans,
and likewife are forced to hire Afles, and Blficks to
drive them, to bring the Salt down to the Sea
Side to Ihip off; for which they pay them in
Bisket, Flower, fc?f . or old Cloaths, or what elfe
they bring w ith them for that Furpofe.

Thc\' ufcd to ha\ e a pretty good Trade for
tlieir Afles and Horfes, which are the befl of all
that arc upon the Czpe de Verd Iflands, which
they fold for Cloaths, Provifions, and Mone}',
when they could get it, or that their Neceflities
for Food were not fo great.

Raw Silk is mudi coveted by them, for work-
ing the Bofoms of their Shirts, Shifty, Caps,
Womens Wafte-coats, and Coifs, which they do
very dextroufly, confidering.

The Men generally uie the European Drefs,
and few but what have Suits of Cloaths bought of
EiigliJkmeHj and have learned to make Cotton
^loths to imiwte the European Fafhion.

J..- The

C 395 ]

The Women, when drefled, have Cotxon
Cloths ; and, according ^ they are induftrious or
nice in ginning, Ibme finer, fome coarfer, fome
with One, fbme Two or Three of thofe Cloths
wrapped about them like Petticoats, and tied with
a Girdle above the Hips*, or fbmetimes without a
Girdle, the Corner of the Cloth only tucked in ;
their Shifts are made like a Man's Shirt, but cut
off fo fliort, that it don't reach low enough to tyc
under their Girdle ; the Wrift-bands, Collar,
and Neck, of the higheft Sort, elpecially the
younger, are wrought in Figures, with Silk of
divers Colours, with the Needle ^ but the poorer,
particularly the older Sort, content themfelves
with blew Cotton Thread to work their Bofbms,-
Collars, ^c. with ; over their Shifts they wear a
Wafte-coat, with Sleeves to button at the Arms,
not above Four Inches deep in the back Part, but
long enough before, to tye with Strings under
their Breads ; and over all, a Cotton Cloth, in
manner of a Mantle; which the married Women
generally have of a blue Colour, and the darker
the Blue, the riche^it's reckoned ; but the Maidens
and gay young Wives, or Widows, wear blue
and white Cloths, Come figured, as they call it,
others ipotted : Some are {o nice as to have white
Cotton 'y but rather, if they can get ihem, Linnen
Handkerchiefs wrought along the Edges, an<J
Ibmetimes the Corners only, with Silk, moftly
red, green, and blue, the firft being the Colour
moft admired among them, as well as by all the
Inhabitants of thofe Iflands in general, the lattqr
being the only Colour they can dye, which they
vary to feveral Degrees, by making it darker or
.lighter.

The Women wear no Shoes nor Stockings, ex-
cept very few of them, and that only on Holidays ;
but fcmP of the Men are {o wfcd to Shoe^ and

Stockings, that they can as little bear to go bare-
feot, as wc in England i but I think there is not
above Two pr Three of thofe upon this IQand.

But though this be the Manner of their DreiEng
on Holidays, yet, on other Days, both Men and
Women are moftly naked, the Women only wear-
ing a fmall G>tton Cloth wrapped round them as
high as their Wafte, and reaching down to dieir
Knees, or a little lower, and the Men a Pair of
old Breeches, which, if there be but the Wafte-
band, and a Piece hanging to it before to hide
their Privities, it's reckoned fufficient^ or, £6r
ivant of this, they wear the Remnants of an old
Wafte-coat, hanging all in Tatters about them ;
and were they the beft Cloaths in die Wojld, they
will net fo much as few a Seam, if ripped.

They are veiy lazy, both Me» aad Women j
and though this Ifland yields more Cotton than all
the Cape de Verd Iflands befide, yet there is not
one Ifland where there are fewer Cotton Cloths to
be bought, or dearer fold, than this of Bona Vifi 5
for they will neither gather the Cotton 'till they
know of a Ship or Veflel to I^y it, nor will their
Women Ipin, but as they want y to that if a Man
Ihould go there when the Cotton Seafbn is over,
he will Icarce be able to buy One hundred weight
on the Illand, though, I am certain, they might
gHthor >xarly more than a good Ship's Cargo,
Cotton Shrubs grrowing there in common : And
tlM> jch at lc\eral of th^ Iflands, Cotton, of late
T<i^4rs. harh fuled, yet, at Bona Vtft it never &iled
jpet^ and w^th little Charge, might be tamed into
Gumej tr iding Cloaths ; & that it might be no
di*!!cult Matter for a Man to have One or Two
thoufand Barrafools ( i. e. trading Cloths ) in a
v^ry little Time, foe Six-pence or £ight-pence pit
B^rrafool, which, in our Meafure, is atK>ut Five
Foot and a iUlf long^ and Four Fopt broad ;

but

but each Ifland has its different Mea£ire, and
this Quantity, at any Time and Place where
Cotton Cloths vend (which is on a confiderable
Part of the Coaft of Guinea) would purchafe at
leaft, One hundred Slaves, or other Commodities
proportionable ; and fbmetimes half the Quantity
more.

This Ifland likewife yields Plenty of Indigo^^
which grows as the Cotton does, naturally, they
taking no other Pains with it, but to gather it
when they have Occafion for it. . They liave not
the Way of feparating the Tinfture, as is pn&ifed
in the fFeft^Ihdies, &c. which, if they had, and
were indiidlrious, there might be a great deal
made there ; and I do not know, but it might be
worth while to bring it to England^ even as they
make it up, which is only by pounding the Leaves
of the Shrub, while green, in a wooden Mortar,
with a wooden Peftle, fuch as they ufe to pound
thdr Maiz in (for they have no kind of Mills to
grind with on any of the Iflands) and ib reduce
it to a kind of Pap, which they^orm into thick
round Cakes, fbme into Balls, and drying it,
keep it 'till they have Occafion to ufe it for dying
their Cloths.

I remember when I was at that Ifland fome *
Years ago, I bought Six or Eight of thefe Cakes
for a Tryal, and when I came home, I gave them
to a Gentleman of my Acquaintance, who car-
ried them home to his Wife, telling her. It was
Indigo unrefined,' which (he endeavouring to ufe^
for the blueing of her Unnen and Starch, could
not extrad the Tindure in the ufiial Way, and
fo hove it away as good for nothing : I did eype<ft
he would have carried it to fbme one that knew
hew to extraft the Tihdure out of it, lb as Id
have been able, with fbme ExaAncfs, to knoW
what Quantity of Tin&iHre, or^ «& v^^trnDSsicic^

C?98 ]

calied. Stone-blue, might be contained in fixh
a Quantity of thoCc Cakes, and fix>m dience to
compute whether it was worth while to trade for
it there ; I not knowing then myfelf how to make
that Experiment, which I have fince learned of
the Natives of St. Nicbolasy who extrad the Tin-
&UYC by a Lixivium^ though, I doubt not, but
that there may be better Ways than th^t.

'I here is a fmall Quantity of Ambetgris found
here, but the Inhabitants, for the moft Part,
adulterate it, by mixing with it a Sort of Jeliy
or lixcrcmcnt caft on the Shore there ; ib that
it's not worth buying, unlefs by one that could
diftinguifh that which is adulterated, from that
which is not.

This liland abounds with Fi(h, but not near fo
plenty as at die Ifland of *S^/, though I have myfeJf
kilcd at one Draught with a Seyn, Fifty-fix Mul-
lets^ Wlidcs a vaft Quantity of other Fifli , and
aUnit the Ri>ck which lies off from the Ifland
lulled Ji?lfi U:toh\ Fifti are as plenty, as at the
hluui atv^rc-mcytioned.

This ItUnd is low Land for the moft Part, with
ivvno i\\S;v Moimtains and fandy Hills ; the Coaft
v'^n ::^r Va:t Side landv* and from the South-Eaft
tV ;*:* nvmd K> the Southward, and from thence
:o :hr r ;<■.. > Rixid, the Coaft is all fandy, moftly
^M* 4 >\ h::i!h Oft, except here and there fome bJacK

I S?iT art^ but Two Roads ufed by Ships in
:h;s l:U:ui ^ the nu^ft noted is J'be Eftglijb Road^
\\h<i\ l.c^^ tv^ the Si^thward of the little I/land.
^t ;;{ 4 Ursit' clwn Bay^ with feveral little Shoals
^vh\>h ip:c ou: from the Nordiermoft Side of the
Bay > and you nuv anchor any where from Thir-
teen to Four Fathom^ but not within that Depth,
for fwr of the ativrtiid flony Shoals : There is a
ttock which exttnds South-Weft finom the South

C 399 ]

point of the little J/land. about a Mile, which is
fteep clofe to the Side of the little Iflaiui ; but
elfe all round about it are gradual and £indy
Shoalings. The Channel between this Rock, and
the little J/land^ is clean, and near the Rock is
Nine Fathom ; but as you are nigher the Ifland,
it fhoals gradually till you come into Five Fathom,
which is nigh enough to venture : The beft Riding
is to brii^ the South Point of the little I/land
North-Ww:, and anchor in Five Fathom Water.

The other Road is called, ^be Portuguefe Roadj
which^ thobgh it is nothing nigh fb good as the
Englijh .Koad for landing, yet it lies, nigher the
Town^ and is clean, having nothing to hurt you
but the Shore, after you are to the Southward of
the Shoals of Calyete St. George^ till you come to
the South-Eaft Point, faving, that you muft give
the North- Weft Point of the Bay a finall Birth,
the Point ruilning flat out a little way.

The Rock of John Letton^ lies from Calyete
St. George, South-Weft, about Five Leagues, from
whence, in clear Weather, you may fee Bona Vift ;
the ragged Mountain over the Town, which is
the only one on that Ifland, bears from the Rock
North-Eaft-Eafterly ; the North-Eaft End of the
Rock is above the Water, and ftiews about the
Bignels and Height of a light Ship of Tw6 or
Three hundred Tuns. Burthen ^ and is fteep too
on the North-Eaft End, ftretching away Weft-
South-Weft, and Eaft-North-Eafl^ about half a
League in Length.

I paired over the Weft-South-Weft End of it,
in Ten Fathom Water; I could then fee the
Bottom very plain, which was rocky, and I could
difcem Swarms of Fifti ; I lay to, as fbon as I
was clear of it, it being a fine light Gale, and
Cnooth Water 3 and in lefs than a Quarter of an
. Hour^ we got as much Fiflx as we could tell vi(b2&x.

[ 400 ]

to dd mhbj and dxen I made Sail ; it broke tfaea
coty about tbe Rock | but I have pafKd by it,
vbea file Sea nm high, and then I faw the Sea
break on die Shoal, as nigh as I could compote
i^ above Haifa Mile in Lmgth.

The People c( Bona Vtfi^ natually love the
BwMff Nation, and moft of them can ipeak a
little of the Mn^ijb Songue^ and even fame of die
Women make Sv& to underftand one In it.

Tbe Governor, whofe Name is Singaf^ Pedro
hntmj is an honeft Man; but Captain JUanuel
Domimc^ is not only the nireft Doder, but the
moft fii^ble Man that I have conyeded tritfa of
a Black, on all the Iflands, and his Word may
be depnded on. He can read both Englilb and
Breueby and hath a ]^r$mb Bible.

&&^MSk^^i

The Jfle of MA Y,

LIES in the Latitude of 15^-12' North, and
Longitude 5*"- 29' Weft, from Cape de Verd.
It bears irom Bona Vift South-by-Weft-Wefterhr,
about Fourteen Leagues, and is low Land, for
the moft Part like the former, having Three
Mountains, the higheft being the South-Bafter-
moft, called finofa^ the Northermoft St Antonio.
The North, and North-Eaft Parts of this Hland,
are very rocl^, and full of Shoals ; fome lying
off the Land a good Way ^ the moft dangerous,
is a Ledge of Rocks which extends from the
North-Eaft Side the Length of a League, and at
low Water is ahnoft dry in fome Places : Between
that aind the Shorty is a Channel, where is Water

r 401 ]

enough for a Ship to run through, but is dange-
rous^ unlefi one is well acquainted with it.

There iare Two Roads for Ships to ride in,
and feveral little Coves, where a Boat might tun
in ^ but I fhall not trouble myfelf*, nor my Reader,
with the Defcription of the latter.

The Northermoft Road is called Paa Seco^
where you may anchor in Six, Seven, 6r Eight
Fathom Water, bringing the Eaftermoft Point df
the Bay North-Weft of ydu^ the Ground is
ftony, but doth not much damage a Cable, except
you chance to fall among the Coral Rocks 5 but
letting go your Anchor in Seven or Eight Fathom,
and the Point North-Weft, or North-Weft-by-
North, you will have the beft of the Road. Tne
Coaft down along almoft to the Point of Tmgdofl^
IS full of ftony Shoals and Banks ^ fome of them
extend near Two Miles from the Shore.

About the Point of Tmgdofty lies the EngUjb
Road j where the Salt Ships ride ^ ^Tis moftly toul
Ground, and rocky towards the B/w^ P^pi;/^, which
makes the South Point of the Bay. The North-
ermoft Part of the Bay is almoft as bad for cutting
a Cable, but not liable to hook an Anchoi*, as
the South Side is, by reafon of the Rocks.
'Tis generally laid. That the mfi-of-England-
Misn fouled this Bay, by heaving their Ston^
Ballaft over-board in it. The Middle of the
Bay is the cleareft Ground, and from Twelve to
Eight Fathom, the beft Depth to ride in, except
in the latter End of yune^ or ^July^ when you ex-
peft Ihifting Winds, and then it's better riding out
in fifteen or Eighteen Fathom.

The Inhabitants are much the lame with thole
of Btna Vift^ but not altogether to well aflfeded
to the Engltjh. They have run the fame Calamity
for want of Rain, as thofe of Bona Vtli^ but have
more Cows, and thefe generally the beft. ^sAfexJwSiL

.v»

[ 40i ]

on all the Cape de Verd Iflands : They have alfo
moft of them Goats.

They are moftly Blacks^ having few Molattoes^
and no IVkites among them s and are the hardeft-
favoured of all the Iflands.

They have Cotton, on the Ifland fufficient for
their Ufe, and to (pare, but are fb lazv, that they
lofe above half oi it, for want of gatnering • and
formerly had more than they have now ; but the
want ot Rain, hath dried up a great Part of their
Cotton Shrubs, though they never had o|ie Tenth
o£the Quantity that Bona Vifi hath.

Their Habits are almoft the lame with thofe on
Bona Vift j but few wear wrought Shirts, Wafte-
cgats. Shifty Sc. as the Inhabitants of Bona Vifi
do.

This Ifland afford* Fiih, but not fb Plenty as
that, of Bona Vift , and they catch Turtle there,
but not in any great Quantity.

The moft noted Man in this Ifland, is Captain
Vmcent Al'va^ commonly known to the Engltjb
by the Name of Peter Vincent.

There are fbmetimes found here, fmall Quan-
tities of Ambergrile.

The Number of Souls computed to be on this
Ifland, is fbmething above Two hundred.

There is fbme Indigo here, but not much 9
there is alfb here wild Fowl, the Gallina Pintato^
or Guinea Hen.

There is on this Ifland, as on mofl: of the
others, and particularly at Bona Viftj an ExcreC-
cence, or vegetable Stone which grows and (hoots
in Stems or Stalks, much like the Head of a Col-
li flower, or as Coral does, but is more porous,
being of a greyifh Colour, and much like thofe
Stones generated or produced by Shells, £?^.

•

This

C 403 3

This Ifland owes its Name of May^ to its being
diftovered on the Firft Day of the Month fb
called. .

r^y^aiifi'*'^''^^^'^^'

^he IJland of St. Jago, or St. James.

WA S aljR) difcovered the Firft Day of May^
the Feftival of that Saint, which occafion-
6d it to be called by that Name. It lies in Lati-
tude i^^'-oo' North, and Longitude f'-os Weft
from the Cape de VeH^ and was the firft of thefe
Iflands that was inhabited by the Portuguefe^ and
is the principal, as well as the largeft, and fruit-
fulleft of them all ; and as it hath the tnoft Rains,
lb it hath the moft running Brooks, beft Pafture,
and greateft Variety of Fruits.

This Ifland always remained in the King's
Hands, ^nd aijoys the Privilege of obliging all
Ships to clear there, that trade by the Nordiward
of Sierra Leon to Guinea^ and being a convenient
Place to trade from to Guinea^ occafioned feveral
Merchants to fettle, and a Manufaftory of Barra-
fools, to be carried on there, 'till, as I hinted be-
fore, that their Trade declined ; however, it gave
Occafion to replenifh this Ifland with Inhabitants^
who held their Lands by the Gift of the Crown,
which was given for the better Encouragement of
People to fettle there, without any Refervation of
Acknowledgement, by Way of Tax to the Crown ;
to them and their Heirs for ever ; and does moftly
belong to the Whites, who are the feweft in Num-
ber, as not holding the Proportion of l*hrce to
Forty of the Blacks.

D d a i» "t^^

C 404 ]

The Certainty of the Land being theirs^ dnd
tlicir He'rs for ever, encouraged them to make a
better Improvement, than the other Iflanders,
^who fliift their Landlords or Proprietors, as often
ai the Kin^ pleafes ; except the Ifland of St. PW-
/;p, which alio being in the King's Hands, is
upon the fame Foot as that of St. "Jago.

This Ifland hath, as I obferved. Plenty of
Water, many Vallies, and, as it affords good Pa-
fture, ib it abounds with Cows and Goats, and
hath a Sufficiency of Sheep, Hogs, Horfes, Afl^
Fowls of all Sorts, as Guinea Hens, Peacocks, and
other Hehs \ which laft fly out in Flocks to feed
on the Mountains, and return Home to rooft eve-
ry Night, like Doves in England.
' There arc good Oranges here, both fweet and
four. Lemons, Tamarinds, Pine Apples, Guavas,
Cuflard Apple, Bananoes, Plantans, Cocoa Nuts
in abundance, Maiz, Feflioon, Guinea Corn,
Fompion, Water and Musk Melons, and Mandy-
okes in great Plenty ; as alfo Sugar-cane, whereof
they make feme Sugar, but moflJy Molofles ; they
have likewife fomc Grapes, and the Natives lay.
Vines would thrive very well among them, which
I believe \ but they are not allowed to make
Wine, the King, for fome BLeafons, having abfo-
lutelv prohibited it.

1 here are Four Towns on this Ifland, q;/^.
^ago^ St. Boviingo^ St. Domingo Abaceu^ and
de Praya^ befides the City called Cidada de
Kibeira Grande^wherQ the Governor, Ovidore, ^c.
as alfb the Bifliop, who is fl:iled Bifliop of St. yago^
of all the Cape de Verd Iflands, and of all the
Coafts of Guinea^ refides j and the latter hath his
Country Seat about Three or Four Miles out of
the City, called Innidade ( /. e. Trinity )

Here

C 405 ]

H6re alfb is a religious Houle 01 Cordelier-
Friers, who are the only Men on thefe Klands
who conftantly eat frelh-baked, as well as fer-
mented wheaten Bread ^ Flower, ^c. being lent
them yearly from Portugal. They have very fine
Gardens, ftored with Salads, and the beft Fruit on
the Ifland ^ and have brought a Part of the run-
ning Brook of Kibeira Grande^ not only to run
through their Gardens, but alfb, in a manner, to
every Part of their Houle, which, except the
Cathedral, makes the beft Prolpeft in or about
the City.

The prefent Bifliop is of the lame Order with
thofe Friars, but yet they cannot agree ; inlbmuch
that a while ago, he threatened to Ihnt them i:p
in their Convent, if they ever concerned them-
lelves with any thing out of it, either Ecclefiafti-
cal or Civil ; before which Time, they ufed to
cxpofe the Ignorance of the Negro Priefts educated
at St. y^go i but now are oblio;ed to concern
themfelves with the Bufinels of their Convent
only.

Moft of the Priefts among thefe Iflands, as alio
thole lent to Guinea^ are black, and the prefent
Bilhop more efteems them (as miking better and
Ibberer Clergymen) than thofe th?.t are lent from
Portugal^ who, for the moft Part, are, I do not
•lay illiterate, for then I Ihould include almoft all
the Clergy of Porttigal^^ they bemg confeflTedly
the moft illiterate arid ignorant of all the Clergy
in Europe^ but thole lent hither, are generally
Men of fiich loole, vicious, and fcandalous Lives,
that for the Credit of their Fun6tion, if they ex-
pole themfelves to no Crime liable to the Inqui-
fition, they are lent Abroad to the Cape de Verd
Iflands, Guinea^ Brafil^ &c. but this Billiop be%
ing a mild-tempered Man, and thefe Banditti^
as I may call them^ partaking more of xJenk. Q^"^--

D d 5 \x^«»^

C40<5]

tries of Msrs and Saturn^ than of Jupiter^ it
vas iznpollible their Tempers Ihould be very
azT^xabie to each other, it is poffible, indeed,
that there may be hone and there a Perfoh of ano-
ther Chirader among thcfe profligate Priefts, be-
caul^r lometimes, the Want of Friends to get into
a Ben<rtke^ may oblige a (bber Man to defire a
MitT;on Abroad, purch' to keep him bom Want-

1 hey bring up abundance of young Blacks at
5r ?.ft^ ivT die Prieftlv Fundion, and as fixxi as
tho- have ndbhxd to be lucfa, they and their
Fri^ndN* endcaA-our to make an Interdft with ibme
o:^ rh^ Cinoos* or Chaplains of the Bifhop, who
are Fir-:uj:K (^no Bhck being admitted to the
'^•^nitN- of Kfhopj Canon, or Chaplain to die

Br^op"^ and vhen by Prefaits, Friends, Sc.
they hi\r prtxurcd one of thofe Digmtaries to be-
codsr thcr Pitrv^n or Tutor, who vet Icldom en-
oc-iAocr or rikt any Pains to inltnici them ; they
r^'\t arrlv thfmlihts to the Biihop, to let Wm
ur-icrr.uN:* tr.^t rr.cy have goc a Patron, who
C^r-^cT.y.v i:oc'> ^::h then* or lome ClergMnan
ct ^^ i: AvVui>*M:vx\ :ir.<i acouainrs him, that thev
ar;: r;r:o*Awi t.^ irndv 2rd c-alih- themielves for

chr F'-ivitly Fiuiv'tion ; die Bifrop then aiks them
l<r\ iral C --'^O"*'-^ ^3Ln>i Uvs beibre them rhe Di^-

5>. C;? :hvrra hi> SltiHng ; and ruvir-z obtained a

LrTK C^.:r^r:.:r^ \v::h ior:e cinchurical Bcthis,

c\pa*r:;n^ the oominon Parts of cheir RcL«£ioa,

thc\" r*jr rhiiraeivcs in a SrjdcRi*i Habfr^ which

is a long c!oie Girmenc* and a Ccak^ both made

\tf* black Ba\*s. Our of thde Bcv?lc5^ thev cndci-

nxHir to get ai moL-h by He::rt as they caiu and

m the Evcniuss ^^*Y ^^^^^"^^ ^ ^^^^^^ ibady Street,

-ssa

C 407 ]

there they argue, difpute, and ask one another
Queftions about what they have ftudied, or got by
Heart out of thofe Books , the chiefeft of their
Grammatical Diiputes being about the Declenfions
of Nouns, few of them attaining fo far, as to
vary a Verb through the Moods and Tenfes, and
confequently you muft conceive, they cannot
make one Latin Sentence as it ought.

As fbon as they have learned as much as they
can out of thefe Books, by this Method, they are
again introduced before the Bifdopj who examines
as he thinks fit ; and thofe who are ripeft, he or-
ders them Ibme other Books to ftudy in, with
Diredions , all which Books they pay for.

As foon as they have a while pradtifed them-
felves in jthefe other Books, they make a Third
Appearance before the Bilhop, having firft paft
their Examination before the Paluftre^ who is Vi-
car General under the Bifliop, and firft Judge of
the Inquifition, and dignified with the Title of
DoSlor ^heologia^ though, perhaps, he knows lit-
tle of it 5 who certifies the Bilhop, who is quali-
fied, and who is not ; which Qualification depends
pretty much upon the Greatnels or Smallnefs of
the Prefent, ^c, made him ; and according to
this Certification, the Bifliop gives the Ordination
of the loweft Order, and mert they are (worn as
well to Secrecy of thofe Myfteries which they
have learned, as thofe they fliall learn, which, as
yet, are none of the h^heft ; in which they con-
tinue 'till their Merit, or Intereft, fits them to
receive the Second Degree, or Order; namely.
The Evangelii^ and then they have Liberty to
read and j^rufe the Liturgy, and may officiate in
affifting the Mals-Prieft, by reading the Epiftles
and Gofpels.

D d 4 The

. [ 4«8 ]

The Graduate then makes all the Intereft he can
to obtain the Third, and higheft Degree^ which
is the Mijfal Order ; before the Receiving of
which, he is again iworn in the moft fblemn Man-
ner, to continue conftant and obedient to Holy
Church, fubmitting to, and believing every diing
commanded by her, as likewife to keep fecret all
the Myfteries of Religion, not allowed by Holy
Church to be expoied to the Secularity ; ana,
without Doubt, much more than can be expe&ed
any of them would declare to me : after which,
their chief B.ufinefs is to make Intereft for a Bene-
fice as fbon as they can.

Thcfe Blacks oeing, for the moft Part, home-
br^, and ignorant Men, after they have been
brought up to that Fundion, take great Care not
to commit any Crime, that would expofe them to
the Danger of the Inquifition, or the BiOiop^s
Dilpleafure, either of which, would be ftifficient
to ruin them ; being prepoffefs'd with a Notion,
that if they were to flee away, they could expeA
no Reception in a foreign Land, elpecially in
Europe^ among Chriftians (i. e, Roman-Catholicks)
and that if they were to go to the Hereticks, they
muft eternally be damned in the future State, and
certainly be Slaves during this Life.

1 hefe Notions having imbib'd themfelves, they
take all Opportunities to perlwade their Auditors
to the fame Opinion, and to inculcate into the
poor People's Minds, tha© all thofe that are out
of thv*^ Communion of the Church of Rome, are
certainly, as Jong as they £o continue, in a repro-
bate State y and to make them the more odious,
deny them the very Name of Chriftians, inlb-
much, that many of their Priefts, and moft of
their People, believe, that even Baptifin, which
is, as it were, the entering and regiftering a Man
into that holy Community, is us a by no People

in

C 4^9 ]

in the World, fave the Komijh Church only:
And, indeed, 'tis ufual, both with Clergy and
Laity, not only in thefe Iflands, where they know
nothing but what they are taught, by thofc who
make it a great Part of their Study, to render
the Reformed Religion as odious as the Mahome-
tan ^ but even in Spain and Portugal^ if they put
the Queftion whether you are a Proteflant or
Roman, they ask. If you are a Cbrifiian ? which,
they think, you cannot be, if you are not a
Roman.

This Ifland of St. Jago^ on the South-Eaft
End, is flat Land, but all the reft, except Campo
de i'erra^fall^ is moftly mountainous ^ the hieheft
is Peek Antonio^ which is near the Middle or the
Ifland, and may be feen above the reft of the
Mountains on either Side of the Ifland, at the
Diftance of three or four Leagues off ; at a lefi
Diftance than which, the other Mountains inter-
cept your Sight. The high Hill of ^erra-fallj if
to the Eaftward or Weftward of the Ifland, at
the firft making, fliews like an Ifland, till you run
nigh enough to raife the Low Land.

The moft noted Port for Shipping about this
Ifland, is Porto Pray a ; which lies about the South-
Weft Point of the Ifland, and is eafy to be
known by the Town and Fortification on a pretty
high flat Land, in the Middle of the Bay, and a
Valley on each Side, making a pleafant Prolpeft,
diverfify'd with Cocoa -Nut Trees, and Palm
Trees.

There is an Ifland on the North- Weft Side of
the Bay, behind which a finall Vcflel may ride
lafer, as well as finoother, than in the open Bay ;
which, however, is very large and clean, and you
may ride in it from fifteen, to five or fix Fathom,
in clean 3andy Ground, and in fbme Places Clay ;
but wichiti that Depth, till you come into three

[ 4»o 1

Fathom, it is tough Owfe ; and within that Depdi
Sand again.

About two Leagues from Praya^ Weft-North-
Wcft, lies CaU-yete St. Martin^ which, if you arc
defign'd to go into, you muft take a Black on
Board at Porto Praya to ihew you the Land,
there being nothing to hurt you but what you
may fee.

It's a narrow Cove, not above half a Cable's
Length broad, and runs in from the Weftermoft
Point about a Quarter of a Mile ; having within
llbout 1 6 or 1 8 Foot Water. You moor with an
Anchor ofl^ and a Stem<r&ft aihore to a Tree in
the Middle of the Beach, which is full of final!
Stones. You may lie fecure here all the nuny
Sealbn, and here you may Water alfb. It is
about four Miles to the City by Land from this
Place ; and there is not much afcending or de-
fcending in the Journey j but the Way is very
ftony.

The City lies about a League to the North*
Weftward, in a very ordinary Road, being fo
very foul, that it's much but you cut your Cable,
if you lie any Time ; or, if you mifs that, you
may probably fo hook your Anchor in the Rocks,
that ten to one but you leave it behind you.

There have feveral Veflels been loft in this
Road, which is the Reafon that of late few Ships
JO there, unlefs by chance a Portuguefe ; though
tormerly fome of the Dutch Eaft India Ships have
touchM there for Refrefhment and for Water,
which runs into the Sea there ^ but for fcveral
Years paft, Porto Praya hath been only us'd, where
is good Watering alfo.

Rivera de Plata is a very good Bay, all over
clean Ground, where you may anchor in what
Depth you pl^fe, from three and a half to twelve
or fourteen Fathom Water, and is a better Place

to

C4"3

to water at than Porto Praya^ the Water running
down to the Sea-fide, where you may rowl your
Cask into the River, and fill your Water at the
Bungj without ufing Bucket or Funnel. You
may have all Sorts of Refrefhment at this Bay^
as Fruit, Roots, Fowls, Goats, and Cows, much
cheaper than you can buy them cither at Porta
Praya^ or the City ; and I have knowi> when a
Cow has been Ibid at Ptw /<? Praya for e%ht I)oIs-
lars, which is 6000 Reas, that a mudi better ha)
been Ibid at Rivera de Phta for 2500 Reas , and
when Maiz has beeil fold at Porto Praya for 400,
it has, at the lame Tim^ been fold there for aod
Reas.

^errU'^fail is the next confid^rabk Port, which^
although it's a good Road when in, e&cept in the
foiftihg Winds Se^fon, yet it's very trpublefome to
turn up into, and a Place that yields no Commo«
ditics fpr Trade.

The next is Porto Faciendo^ which is a feif
large Bay, being clean, thwart die Beach, irofit
ten to rour Fathom Watdr. You may idfo ffll
Water here ; but this Part of the liland being
moftly Pafture Land, you catn have little other
Refrcfhment, iave Coats and Cows^ whidi you
may have as cheap as on any Part ot the Ifland.
1 remember I bought a young Bull, about tw6
Years and half old, for art old Shir^ which was
not worth Sixpence in England.

You may have Monkeys here, and on all Parts
of this Ifland ; which of all the Cape de Verd
Iflands alone produces that Cr^ture.

There are feveral Coves and little Bays betwixt
this Road and the Bickude^ which iis the Nwther-
moft Point of St. Jago ; but the Place is not only
barren and uninhabited, but dangerous to venture
in, the Co^ all along being rocky^ fome under^

otheriomc

[ 4»i ]

othcrfbme above Water; but don't lie above a
Mile off from the Shore.

After you are about the Bickude^ the Cbaft
runs to the Southward of Porto fine Nome^ which
I Iball paC by any farther Defcription of, as hav-
ing had occafion to mention it before.

The next Bay is Porto Formofa^ which is a lair
Bay, being mud up at the Head of it round the
Point, where a fmall Shallop might lie Landlocked
firom all Winds j but not being convenient for
Trade, I pafs to the next Port ^ which is

St. Jago 5 which is remarkable enough to be
known, mere being a Church, the Oudide of
which is whited with Lime, and covered with red
Pantiles, and ftands upon a rifing Ground, and
therefore feen at a great Diflance. It's thwart
the Middle of the Bay, and has a Valley both on
the South and North Side of the Church, ^;^eil
planted with Cocoa-Niit and Palm Trees. The
Bay is clean fandy Ground, and a Ship may fafe-
ly anchor in ten or twelve Fathom Water. A
little to the Northward of the Church there ccmh-
monly runs a great Sea along Shore, which is
landy.

This is one of the plentifuUeft Places on St.
yagOj for wharibever Things the Ifland produces ;
and the People are very free, Ibmewhat like the
Temper of thofe of the Ifle of St. Johns.

South-by-Eaft, about two or three Miles, lies
the Porto Madera : It's narrow going in, being
not above a large Stone's-caft wide, between two
rocky Points j but fteep too on both Sides, having
nine, eight, {even, fix Fathom Water in ; and
after you are (hot in about the Northermoft Point,
you have four, and farther in, three Fathom and
half You are then Landlocked for all Winds,
and can fee no Sea, and may fecure a Ship of
three hundred Tons with a three Inch Rope j for

let

[4^3

let the Wind blow which Way it will, you have
very littte when in. Its Bottom is Sand, mixt
witnClay; but higher up it'sfbft Mud: It is a
very good Hai'boui*, when in, and neither dan-
gerous, nor difficult, there being nothing to hurt
you going ift^ to you don*t run afhore againft the
Rocks t It*s difficult for a Stranger to • find it, be-
caufe one Point locks or (huts in the other fb, that
you can*t perceive the Harbour till you are paft
it, nor any thing remarkable enough to know it
by : The only way for a Stranger to run into - it,
would be, to take in one of the Natives on Board
at St. Jago^ to ftiewhim the Port.

There are feveral Bays betwixt Porto Madera
and Porto Loho^ but a little dangerous, having
many lunkcn Rocks lying along theCoaft, but
not any farther off the Shore tluui one Mile, nei-
ther are they fit for Ships to ride in.

Porto Loho is a very fafe Harbour, when in,
for all Winds : The Entrance is but narrow, not
above half a Cable's Length broad, with feveral
lunken Rocks lying on each Side of the Entrance,
which makes it too dangerous to venture into it
without a Pilot, or unlels a Man had been in be-
fore : When you are in, it (hews as if you were
got into a Bafon or Lake, being about three
Quarters of a Mile every way ; but you have not
above twelve or fourteen Foot Water within, ex-
cept under the Northermoft Point, where you
have eighteen or twenty Foot. It's all muddy
Ground till you run up to the Bottom of the
Lake, and then it is Sand. A little to the North-
ward of Porto Loho, the mountainous Land of
the Ifland of St. Jago terminates, and, except
feme Hills, is flat ^ yet moftly high champion Land
down to Porto Pray a.

Betwixt

C 4H ]

Bfttwixt Pmio Lobo and Praydy is the Road of
St. Francifco ; which is a fair &uly l^ay^ widi
Cocoa Nut and Palm TFees in. the Vall^, but is
foul Ground in moft Fkces of the Bay ^ neither
is there any fi?eih Wa&er th^e nigh the Sei.

About a League to the Souch-Wdftward from
St. Francifco^ is a Cpve called Pcrtet^ betog a good
Road for Sballpps, or fmall Veflels, but not fit
for great Ships : There lies a fiuiken B,ock about
two thirds on the Starboard Side gdng in.

The next Road is Porto Praya^ which was de-
Imb'd bcf^.

^, There is Abundance of diat Mai;ch^fee which
die Poftuguefe call Beur d^ore^ fbme of which is a
little traniparent, and odi^fome moi^ ops^t^
being in the Shade of a dark blueiih or pinple
Colour i but when the Sun-beams - are refleded
upoi it, cafls a golden gliftering Colour; and I
have heard fbme Gentlemen, who had refided
jbme time in ieveral Farts of Brafil^ and were
Gonverfant with People concem'd in the Mines
there, fay. It was an in&llible Sign of a Gold
Mine, wb^e-ever any great Quantity oi that
B^wr £of0 was ; and likewiie told me. That the
laid purpli0i ]VIarchaiite , if ground fine, and
mix'd with Oil, made any thing painted with ir,
look as if it had been gilded ; which Experiment
I never try*d.

The fineft Red that ever I faw, was cm this
liland, in a Hill on the North Part of St. Jago :
It was much after the Manner of the Chalk in
EngloBdy but fofter ; and when I icrap'd fome of
it widi a Knife, it felt as fine as the fineft Flower :
It run in Veins, and next to the deep, yet lively
Red, run a Vein of a £unter Red, then a Vein yet
fainter, next to that a Fleih Colour, then a Sort
of Yellow, then a Yellow much of the Colour of
common Brimftone, after, or above that, vari«

Qufly

[•4^5 ]

oufly colourM 5 and £0 grew hardier, the fiupther
from the Red, till it came to the Hardnefs of a
common Rock* The red Stone was fomething
heavier than Chalk. I had a Piece of that, anil
ibme of the Beur Sore 5 but when I loft my
Boat at St. Nicholas^ I loft them, with fbv^al
other Curiofities of the like Nature.

^he JJland of St.? HlLl?.

TH E Ifland of St. Pbilip^ commonly calfd
by the Name of the lilanfl of Rgo^ as
Fire^ lies about 16 Leagues from St. Jago^ viz.
frcwn the Point of Terra-fall^ to the North-Eaft.
Point of St. Pbilip\ and they bear Weft-South^
Weft ^id Eaft-North-Eaft, being in the Latitude
of i5''-2o' North, and Longitude 6^-54 Wefc
fcoxn the Cape de Verd\

This Ifland was difcover'd by the Portuguefe^
the ^une Day that the Ifle of May and St^ 7^
were, viz. tne ift. Day of May ; fi> that the Iflc
of May bore the Name of the Month, and the
other two the Name of the two Saints, whofe
Conmiemoration is obierv'd on that Day.

This Ifland was uninhabited a great many Years
after it was diicover'd, till the King oi Poftugal
granted to his Subjeds, who would people it, aU>
the I^and that they improved, to them and ^eir
Heirs for ever.

The Natives have a TraditicMi, which how true
I fliall not undertake to determine, but is by them
believ'd as undoubted Faft, that die firft Dwellers
upon this Ifland were two Fryers, who chodle to be

[4'<5i

gut here to pals the Remainder of their Days m ik
ermitick Life.
Whether thefe two Fryers were Minerah'fts,
Metalifls, or Alchymifts, or any, or all of them,
I can*t tell ^ but the Story goes they were Con-
jurers ; (You muft know when this Ifland was firft
difcover'd, it had no Peek^ nor was there any
burning upon it, the Peek growing but fince the
Fire broke out ; and, by Report of the ancient
People, hath fenfibly increased within their Times)
but whatever the Fryers were, they found a Gold
Mine, and there took up their hermitical Abode ;
and after they had got as much of that precious
Metal as they thought fuflficient, they concluded
to put an End to a hermitick Life, and take the
firft Opportunity of a Ship to Eur opt': But one of
them, who fuppos'd himfelf theMafter, required
more than half to his Share, which the other by
no Means would grant ; whereupon the G)nteft
grew {o high, that they fell to conjuring to do
each other a Milchief ; and conjur'd fb long, that
they fet almoft all the Ifland in a Flame, in which
they both perifh'd , after which the Fire went out,
except where the Peek now ftands, which ever
fince hath continue to burn and caft up Stones
till this Day, and God knows how long it may
continue.

Indeed it is almoft incredible to believe the vaft'
Rocks which are caft but, and to what a vaft
Height y the Fall of which again, and their break-
ing and rowling down, may very eafily be heard
eight or nine Leagues in a ftill Air, and this my
own Ears confirmed to me. When they are
blown up, you may hear a Report like a great
Gun, or rather Thunder. In the Night-time I
have feen the Stones rowling down the Peek all
of a Flame, and the Inhabitants fay, that they
have feen Brimftone run down the Peek like

r 4»7 ]

a Torrent of Water down a fteep Mourttalnj
and fbmetimes may gather what Quantity they
ple^fe.

I have had levcral Pieces df it, which the In-
habitants gave me : It is lilgg our vulgar Brimftone,
but of a much brighter Colour, and, in the burn-
ing, gives a brighter Flame.

Sometimes this Vulcano heaves out fuch Quan-
tities of Afhes, mix'd with Cinders, that it covers
the adjacent Parts, and hath finother'd fbme of
their Goats.

The Ifland is much higher than any of the
Cape de Verd Iflands, and is, as it were, one con-
tihu'd Mountain up to the Top ^ neither as you
fail along it,, can you perceive any Vallies, but,
as it were, one fingle JVlountain, the Vallies ap-
pearing only as Gutters made by the Waters run-
ing off the Mountain in the Rains; but when a
Man is aftiore, and in one of thofe Gutters, they
then appear to be deep Vallies, and the Banks of
thole Gutters great high Mountains. This Ifland,
confidering that it hath no running Brooks, and
that it is but in very few Places that frefli Water is
to be had, infbmuch, that the Inhabitants are
forced, in Ibme Parts, to go fix or feven Miles
for their Water i yet it's very fertile, for* Pom-
pion, Water-Melon, Feflioon, and Maiz ^ but
for want of Water, or low Vallies, produces no
Banana's, Plantanes, or hardly any Tree-Fruit,
lave Wild Fig^

They have Ibme few Guava Trees planted in
fome of their Gardens, alio a Crab Orange and
Lemon, likewile Lime, and a Sort of Crab Ap-?
pie • but they have here and there Ibme good
Vineyards, whereof they make little Quantities
of an indifferent good finall Wine, fomething
like the white Fyal Wine^ but they generally

£ e drink

[4<8]

drink it all before it clears, or has done ferment-
ing.

This Ifland was inhabited by European Pfffti*
guefe^ Ibme time after the Fire had been extin*
guiih'd, except that of the Peek, and had the
Land, by the Crown Gift, fettled to them and
their Heirs, as has been faid ; which Portuguefi
brought Negro Slaves with them, and a Stodc of
Cows, Horfes, Ailes, and Hogs; the King pla-
cing Goats there, which run wild on the Moon-
tains ; the Profit of their Skins being refervVl to
the Crown, and he that hath the Management of
them, is call'd Captain of the Mmntains^ none
daring to kill any of them but by his Licence.

The Land is all taken np at prefent, only about
the Peek, and that great high Mountain which
runs along South-Eaft and North-Weft, and is
little inferior in Heighth to the Peek, and where,
at prelcnt, thofe wild Goats haunt, and is the
Limits of the Capiteen de Mountainbt^s Jurit
diftion.

The Cuftoms of St. Jago are in ufe here, mz.
to ftee Blacks at their I)eath, and perhaps fbme
manumitted Blacks might fettle there from St
yago ; but however it was, they at prefent exceed
the Whites a hundred to one.

It*s probable, when Trade decay'd,* fbme of
them might leave the liland, as they had done at
St. Jago.

They planted Cotton in abundance ; and this
was the greateft Mart for Cotton Cloths of any
of the Cape de Verd Iflands ; and here the PortU'
foiefe European Ships us*d to trade for Cargoes of
Barafools for Guinea^ The free Blacks, tar the
moft Part, are Tenants to the Whites, who
have taken up moft of the Land, efpecially near
the Seaj fbme Whites having thirty or forty
Siaves, and fome of the free Blacfci Have Slaves,

which

C 4tp ]

vrhich they purchafe for Cotton Cloths, which
pais there in the room of Money, a Cloth being
valued, and paffing current among them for looo
Reas J but by the laft Drought, all their Cotton
Shrubsj in a Manner, were dryMup^ fo that that
Cotton, which vfas before the chief Produft of
their Ifland, is now a good Commodity to carry
there : And this Scarcity of Cotton here, and at
.St. ya^Oy and the European Pottu^uefe under-
flanding that the French Ships^ whicli traded there
formerly, ufed to buy thofe Cloths, as did like-
wife the French and Englijh at St. Jago^ they
procured an Order, with a Penalty on any one on
thefe Iflands, who Ibid Cloth to any but Subjects
of Portugal y which Order is ftridly dblerv'd by
die Officers of the Cuftoms at St. jago^ tho' not
much minded here^ by Reaibn there are no Duties
paid at this Ifland, and confcquently no Cuftom-* * \
houfe, or Office.

Since the Trade of Cottoil Cloths fciPd, they
have Ibid a great many Slaves to the Portugueje
Ships trading there ; but they are endeavouring to
revive this Branch again, by planting Cotton ;
tho*, for want of a Sufficiency of Rain, it doe^
not thrive lb well as it us'd to do.

They us'd alio to have a pretty good Trade
with the French for Mules, which they bred in
good Quantities, and fold cheap 5 but the dry Sea-
ions drftroy'd them almoft all, fo that they told
ttie, that fix Years ago, there were but two Mules
on the Illand; but they have lately began to
breed them again, and mightily wi(h fome Euro-^
pan Ships Would come aiul trade with thonti for
them 5 but whether it be that the French havdt
found a better Place to tiade, or that their Iflands
in the IVefi'tndiis do not require them now fo
miidl as formerly, or that thqr do not yet know
that they can be fopply'd as heretofore*^ Icaa't.

E e z x^ s

C 4^0 1

tell ; but fincc they have failed of Mulds^ there
has been no Frejicb Ship there to trade.

They have a great Defire to trade with theiJ^g-
/i/t,and would, they fay, refervc their Commodities
for them -, and notwithftanding the Prohibition of
not felling Cotton Cloths to Foreigners, yet they
iay if the Englijh would trade there, they would
fell their Cloths to them.

This Uland is clean on the North-Weftj Wcf^
and South Farts ; but on the South-Eaft, Ea^
and North-Eaft Farts is rocky j tho' thde Rods
do not lie above a Mile from the Shorcj neither
do they lie thick, but here and there on^, feme
above, and feme under Water, except one Rock,
which lieth about four Miles off from the North
Bnd of the Ifland, having, as I have been ia-
formM, twelve or fourteen Foot Water on it. I
have lecn the Sea break over it, when it blew
hard, elie not It's not large, and is clean all
round it.

This Ifland hath not many Places to anchor at,
and but two where you can trade ; for at the reft,
} ou cannot get up the Rocks ; fDr it's all, except
tlic V:!ii L.:-GtMe^ and two or three other Places
on the Sea-coaft, luch fteep high rocky Clifts, that
vou cannot get up any where elfe.

'i'he moft norai Road is Fonte de^Villa^ which
is rijjht againft the Town, and is fandy, except
when a ftrong Korth W ind blows, which often
fwceps or feor.rs away the Sand, and leaves the
Rocks at Bottom bare, which is about Noveviber^
I\caiila\ and January^ and then 'tis not to faft
riding as about the Foint oi Ncjfa, Singcra^ which iJ
a iandy Foint, to the Southward of the Town ; to
the Southward of which, on theClift, is the Church
of XoijA Siuzcrjy from which the Bay and Point
took their Name. Here is good riding for a Nor-
thctlv Wind^ and better when the true North-

¥aft

C 4i» ]

Eaft or North-Eaft-by-North Trade Winds blow,
being clean and fandy at Bottom, except when a
ibutherly Wind blows ftrong, or Ibmetimes by a
Southerly Sea, which now and then runs here ia
the Months of June^ J^^y-i ^^g^fi^ ^"d Septem--
ler^ when thofe Winds do not reach home to the
Ifland, tho', I believe, they blow in the Offing,
which fweep away the Sand, and leave the Rocks
bare at Bottom, as the Northerly Wind and Sea%
do at Fonte de Villa.

You may anchor in both thofe Roads, from 14 to
10 Fathom Water, in clean fandy Ground, except
in the Cales before mentioned. More Southerly
there is a little fandy Bay about a fmall Point of
low broken Rocks, and right againft a Gully
made by the Water funning down in the Time
of the Rains : Here is finooth riding, as well as
landing, the SurfF running but little here ; and
you have Water pretty near, which you have not
at the other two Places ^ and the Sea generally
runs there with a great Swell on the Shore.

You muft anchor right off the Gully, having it
fair open ; for if you (hut it either to the North-
ward, or Southward, and anchor fo, you will
have foul Ground ; neither is there Room for
above two Ships to anchor there at once.

The chief and only Man for Trade there, is
Captain Thome Santee ^ but there is not one on
the Ifland, that can either fpeak or underftand
Englijh.

They are on this Ifland all Roman Catholicks,
yet have Ibme Pagan Superflitions mingled with
the Romifli, by the Mountaineer Blacks. Aloft
of the Whites, with the Governor, live in the
Villa ; tho' moft of them have their Country
Houfes abroad in the Country, on that Part of
their Eftates which they keep in their own Han4s,
and manage by their Slaves, vjVvvcVv ft^^^^Xx'^^ ^\^\^

Ec 3 ^^^^^

C 41^ ]

with Food ; and the Rents of thofe PJantatlons
which they let. to the Blacks, are commonly paid
in Cotton Cloths, which, as was iiud before, are
uied there in the Stead of Money, as Tobacco
was formerly wholly, and now partly, in Virgmia^
and Maryland ; and fince their Cotton Shrubs were
dried up, and for the moft Part perifhed, the
Owners were forced to fill thofe Plantations wirfi
^ogs. Fowls, or what other Animals the Blacks
could raife.

The JJland of St.] OH N,

LIETH in the Latitude' of 15^-25' Nonh,
and Longitude 7''-2' Weft, from the Qif^
de Ve:\i^ and the Villa of St. Philip^ lies from A-
urnc^ Eaft about Six Leagues. I have mentioned
a great many Things of this Ifland before, and to
avoid Tautology, ihall only take Notice here of
fuch Things as I omitted before.

This Ifland is as fertile for Pompion, Water-
Melon, Potatoes, Bananas, Maiz, and Feflioon, as
any cf the Cape de Verd Iflands j as likewife for
CowcJ, Horfes, Afles, and Hogs.

With rdpeA to the Inhabitants, who do not
reach to the Number of Two hundred Souls,
the Natives are all black, and the moft innocent
and harmleli, as well as ignorant and fuperftitious,
of all the Iflands,

■.-1

1

!

C 4^3 3

This liland hath not been inhabited above Two
Ages, which might be the Reafbn of giving it the
Name of the Ifland of Brava^ or wild Ifland ; for
Brava^ both in the Portuguefe and Creole Tongue,
fignifies wild.

It was, for feverai Years, only inhabited by
Two black Families, who lived wholly in Hcathen-
lim, 'till, about Sixty Years paft, a Famine rage-
ing at St. Philip'sj feme of the poorer Sort of
Blacks procured themfelves to be put on the
Ifland of St. Jobtiy by a Portuguefe Ship, who
were joyfully received, as well as relieved, by
their Fellow Blacks the firft Inhabitants, who
having much increafed the Stock of Goats, Cows,
and efpecially Hogs, which the Portuguefe had
placed on all the Iflands when they firft difcovered
them, thofe firft Inhabitants, underftanding the
portuguefe brought their Fellow Blacks fi-pm St.
Philip Sj purely out of Compaflion to prevent
their being ftarved, freely offered to load the Ship
with Hogs, as a Reward for their Charity ; which
ib thinned their Hogs, that by the Time the Ship
was loaden, they had . but few left, and {6 they
catched and killed, or tamed the Remainder.

Thefe Blacks which came from St. Philip's^
loon begot in them the Notion of Property 3 fb
that he th^t could kill, catch, or tame moft, had
moft; and loon reduced all the Cattle on the
Ifland to Meum and ^uum^ except the Goats,
which, to this Day, remain wild j but are claimed
as the Property cf the Lord of the Soil, as are
all the wild Goats on the Iflands.

After thefe Blacks had been Ibme Time
fettled on this Ifland, the St. Philip's Merchants
having a large Boat, managed by a Portuguefe
Sailor, whom they had hired, and uled to lend
to St Jago with Cotton Cloths, when the Portu^
guefs Snips mifled coming to trade there 5 one of

E e 4 the

[ 4*4 ]

the Priefts of St. Pbilip% out of a Godly Roi^i/h
Zeal, to try what he could pick up among the
poor ShepherdidS Blacks at St. Jobn^Sy got the
Proprietors of the Boat to fend her with him
over thither, and he making known the pious
Occafion of his coming, and his Powef of par-
doning their Sins, and thereby fending them eafily, •
and ypt certainly, to Heaven, let rfieir Actions
be never {o bad- and the Impoffibility of their
goinor thither, let their Adions be never fb good,
witho it a Sacerdotal or Prieftly Admittance by
Ablblution ; and a great Part of thefe Notions
being alfb inftilhd into thofe firft Inhabitants, by
their Brother Blacks, who lately came from St.
Pbilip^s^ the pious Padre had little niore to do,
than to baptize them a^ they were, without in-
ftrufting them much further in the Principles of
Religion, it being fufficient to believe that ^hey
were Chriflians by their Baptifin, and, that they
were iure to go to Heaven, and, at the Refur-
reCtion, to be changed white, &c. and fo he
mumbled over a Mafi, which neither they that
heard it, nor he that readmit, underftood ; where-
by he got what he went for j for thofe Blacks
which came from Fogo^ or St. Philip\^ having
taught the others hov/ to fpin Cotton, which
naturally grew there, and to wear it (they before
going ftark naked, as moft of the Negroes pn
the Coaft of Guinea do) the Reverend Padre got
Cloths of thofe that had them, and fingle Breadths
from others, Cotton Thread, or Yam, from
others. Cotton from thofe that neither had fpun
nor wove, and from others Indigo, which like-
ways then grew common, though it does not now ;
from others Hogs, Fowls, ^c. the good pious
Padre refufing nothing that was brought him,
which he thought worth receiving, and when he
tiad got as much as he thought he could well ma-

C 4*5 ]

nage to get back in the Boat, he took his Leave of
them, and prepared for his Return ; the poor
deluded Souls waiting on him down to the Fuurnoy
where his Boat lay ^ and he, in Return of their
Kindnefi, freely gave them a parting Mafs in a
Cave there, which, ever Cnce, goes by the Name
of Fuurno de Padre.

Accordingly he took his Leave of them, telling
them, ^bat what they had given was to God^ and
that be was God^s Steward^ or Receiver ; and, in*
deed, no? only there, but in all the reft of the
Iflands, the People are perfuadedf that whatever
is given to the Prieft, is given to God, unlefi
they particularly dedicate it to fbme Saint, in
which Caie, they think they lay an Obligation
on the Saint to whom they make the Prefent,
to ftand their Friend ; and for which Saints, the
Priefts are al(b the Receivers, as well as of God :
He promifed, however, vto return again, to give
them a fiirther Abfblution for what Sins they
Ihould commit in his Abfence ; and fo he returned
laden home, and vifited them yearly, or as often
as ,hc could, or found it would anfwer ; 'till after
ibme Years, as he was giving his Benedidipn, and
laying a Mafi for them in the afore-mentioned
Cave, having not above Thirty Auditors (for it
ieems they began to fufped:, for all their Igno-
rance, that the principal Motive of his pretended
Piety, was Avarice, and therefore- did not now fo
univerfally attend him down to the Boat, as at
firft) the Cave fell in, where the pious Padre re-
mains with all his Auditors, without being able to
finifh his Mafs, 'till this Day.

They were heard groaning for Three Days
after 5 but the Rocks and great Stones which fell
in, and ftopped their coming forth, could not
be moved to let them out ; and it was happy for
t^jc reft of the Inhabitants^ th^t. ^Jci^vt "Ldk ^^

not fo vehement as at firft ; for had they been all
there, the lame l^ate would have befallen diem,
and die whole Ifland muft have been mtirely de<
populated.

The Boat*Men perceiving thdr pious Mafter
fixed, and ik> PoiRbility ol his coming forth,
made the beft of their Way home, where they
gave the doleful Account or Singore Padre* s^ and
his moft zealous Auditors Imprifbnment ^ and fb
die black Flock of the Ifland of St. Jobn\ re-
mained widiout an abfblving Paftor air ieveral
Years, which g^ve them fiich an Opportunity of
mingling the Pagan and Bj)mi/h Superftidons fb
radically (making good that old Chymical Axiom,
S^at Like eafily unites and incorporates with its
X/ifef ) that to this Day they remmn un&pa«
rated.

Some Years after, the King of PGrtugat fent a
Ship at his own Charge, to carry the Bifiiop« ^c.
round the Iflands, as well as all the Coaft or Qui^
nej^ for a general Vifitarion, who, out of his
mc^ reverend Piet)*, placed a Fellow there to
be Prieft • and when I was there, the then Prieft
was the Fourth, and, I don't doubt, was a Pa-
tem of his Predeceflbrs, or, it might be, exceeded
them in Learning; for he could make (hift to
read in his old Miflal Book, which, I fuppofe,
the Reverend Bilhop gave him when ordained to
that Fundion, which he calls and believes to be
the ScnpTurJ j\:grade (i. e. Holy Scriptures) and
told me lb himfelf ; and when I told him, that it
was not, but that that Appellation was alone given
to the Bible ; his AnlU-er u-as (for I had told him
before, that my Country- was feparated frcnn the
RcffJsOj Communion, on Account of the Tenets
they held in Contradiction of the undoubted
Word of God) 37\jr rj us the Bible might be

ile lc:i Re:'<. Uj^^ •L;:e l^i^ iccaufe it :vjs certain^

\hst

C 4*7 ]

that when we apoftatized from the Holy Catholick
Churchy that that holy Book of the Mafs^ which far
exceeds the Bible^ was not given us by the ^ holy
Pope^ it not being lawful for any to look into itj
hut Priefts lawfully ordained by a Roman Bijhop.

I urged. His not knowing for the moft Part what
was contained in itj it beinz i9$ Latin, a Language
which he did not underflam^ any more than /, that
never read it.

He told me, He did not think that was any Im^
ferfe£iion in him^ unlefs he was of a higher Order ;
and that to be able to under/land it^ was fo fublime
a Myfiery^ that it was not^ that he knew ofy taught
to any black Prieft ; and added, ^bat be knew
enough^ viz. What he fhould read to baptize^ and
marry ; as likewife for the principal Holidays^ and
for Sundays i and whether be underftood or not^
God would never fail blefjing the Effe£is of tbofe
Sacraments : He aUb feid, itbat he could fay or
read the Office for confecrating the Body and Blood ^
ofChrifiy and tranfubftantiating tht IVafer into that
true Body and Bloody as often as he read the Words
of the Confecration^ with an Intent to make the Sacra^
ment ; though he did not^ he confejfedj underftand
the Meaning of one Word that be read ^ He urged
the fame for the Abfolutionj and Rjedeeming out of
Purgatory^ by the Abfolution Office^ and the Majfes
for the Deady and a great; deal of fiich Stuffy But
notwithftanding all his high Freteniions, and the
Ignorance of nis Flock, there are feveral of the^v
thinking Sort of thefe poor Innocents, that reve-
rence him only from the Teeth outwards, as we
ufe to lay.

He baptizes, marries, and buries ; but the Na-
tives have intermixed with thofe Rites, fome of
their old heatheniih Superftitions, (lich as waihing
before Baptifin, decking the Bride with Flo^«^
and a Garland, on die Marriage \>vj ^Wvcv?, >c«?:

r

bodily Worihip, ftripping her of all at Night,
and putting Earth on her Head, in Token of Sub-
je&ion, Iprinkling the Graves of the Dead with
Water, and {bmetimes with the Juice of Water*
Melons, and abundance of other Fooleries.

This Ifland, as 1 told you before, is very high,
yet being fb near the Ifland of St, Philips it
ieems, in Comparifcm of that, to b|p but low.
* It abounds the moft with Salt-peter, of any of
the Cape de Verd Iflands ; and the Governor of-
fered to engage himlelf to procure me a Cargo iiif-
ficient to load with it, that Sldop, or even bigger
than I loft there: It grows in leveral hollow
earthen Caves there, and hangs, or covers all the
Infide like a thick hoar Froft, and, in ibme Places,
in Strias like liicles 9 and in ibme hollow Rocks,
and rocky Caves in great Strias, as thick as a
Man's Thumb.

I tried leveral of the Eaiths of that Ifland, and
extrafted out of fbme ^r 5 others from 1^ to ' , and,
indeed, moft of the Rocks abound with Nitre,
which I experimented by taking thofe which crum-
bled, or feparated into finall Particles like Duft,
from which the moift Air diflblved the Salt, which,
perhaps, is the Gluten that binds them together
when compared as Stones ^ but we will leave this
for the natural Philolbphers to difcufs.

This Ifland, 1 believe, doth abound with Cop-
per, and, perhaps, with finer Metals 3 for which
I will give you my Realbns.

There are feveral Acid Fountains, perhaps, not
wanting much of the Acidnefs of undephlegmated
Oil of Vitriol, which I tried, for want of a better
Manner, thus.

I put a clean Knife into thefe Fountains, and
in about Half a Minute, it would be all over
covered with Copper^ looking near a Gold Co-
Jour, fo thicV:^ x\v^t \ covA^ t^cix ^^^^wt. Z3x^ Iron

[ '419 3

^ £[i* as the Knife was immerged, and held in
the Water ; and this was not a bare G>louring o£
the Iron, but coppered over fb by letting it ftand
fomething longer, that when I had expoled the
Knife to the Sun *till it was dry, I could, with,
another, fcrape off the Copper, which would be
like Scales, and Ibme in Powder, and where any
Scratch, or the like,0was in the Knife, it would
lie as if it had been enammeird, €^r. There are £bme
of thofe Watxjrs will much fooner copper a Knife
over, thin ethers ; and where diey run at a Di-
ftance, the- Acidity diminifhes proportionable to
their Diftance from the Fountain Head.

There are feveral very heavy Sands and Earth ♦
of divers Colours, and fbme of them exceeding
Iron, and not much, if any thing, yielding to
Lead, in Ponderofity^ fbme are of a blueifli
Black, others of a purplifh • fome of a bright
redifh, others of a dark redifli Colour.

I remember, one Time I was a'fifhing on the ^
South-Side of the Ifland, and being extreme hot,
I laid by mv Fifhing-Craft, and fcrambled up the
Rocks to nnd a fhady Place to fmoak a Pipe of
Tobacco ; I/ound a Place to my Mind, and fill-
ing a Pipe, I took a Piece of dry Silk Cotton
Tree, and cutting it into Two Pieces, by Friftion
I fbon kindled it, and lighted my Pipe with it : As
I was ferioufly finoaking it, contemplating, and
looking about me, at a pretty Diftance I perceived
a Rock, on which the Sun reflecting his Beams, it
gliftered like burnifhed Gold : My Curiofity led me
thither to inform myfelf better of the Occafion of
it, aad whether it was only the Sun Beams ; and
when I had clambered up to it, it looked exadly
as if it was all thick gilt : I rubbed my Hand
againft it, but nothing came off; whereupon I
took my Knife, and found I could fcrape it oflf^
but it was fb thin, that I could colled; icarce any

V -.

d( it; arid \<rhere I Icraped it o^, tike Rock ap«*
peared, which was of a blackifh Colour : I otv
icrved, that the Rock was gilt only where the
Water run down^ in the Time of the Rains, from
^ihc Mountains.

I looked about, and c(pied another, which gli-
fiered with golden Spangles : I went to that aUb,
and found it all full of Go|^ Fibres, fbme as fine
as Hairs, fbme as thick as an ^ordinary Needle,
whereupon I took my Knife, and endeavoured
to pick out fbme of this Gold, and got, I believe,
near a Dram Weight, which Was folid Gold, as
far at I could perceive by the Eye 3 I had got one
little Bit, like a fmall flatted Wire, about Half an
Inch long, by cutting and raifing the End up,
and not being able to get any more out of the
Rock, the Vein running deeper in, I was forced
to break it off, by bending it backwards and for-
wards Three or Four Times, 'till it broke ; and
breaking my Knife with the Experiment, I defift-
ed, and came down again to my black Mates,
without taking Notice to them of what I had feen ;
and a little brfore I went from the Ifland, I told
the Governor of it, who would f^in have had
me gone down with him to Ihew it him, which
Journey I found means to avoid , neither was it
ever obferved by any of the Natives before, and
as they were not told the Place, fb it's a Queflion
whether they have found it yet.

This Ifland abounds with Filh, efpecially about
the little Iflands j where alfo, fome Tortoife re-
fbrt at the Seafbn of laying their Eggs ^ but they
are not much regarded for Food, either here, or at
St. Philip's^ or at St. Jago^ and yet at all the
other Iflands, they are accounted their mofl: de-
licious Food y and, indeed, fb they are.

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«S^ Sim^irrvS^ree,.

C 43* 3

To thcfc Iflands, viz. The Me of Jlfoy, Tbut *
more to St. JagOj and moft at St. Jobn\ come at
the nfual Times of their Cooting, or what odier
Term you pleafe to give it, the Baaleas^ whidi
is a Sort of Iflfale or Grampus^ very common
alfb on the Coaft of Brafil^ where they catch
them mudi after the Mmmer that Whales are
caught at Greenland, of which diey make Train-
Oil: and ibme of thofe People do confidently
affirm. That the Ambergris is the Sperm of that
kind of Fifli, Ihed in the Water at the Time of
their Cooting, and will tell you, that at firft it is
like a Jelly, and whitiih, but acquires that dark
Colour by degrees, in floating upon the Siu*faca
of the Water, and hardens afterwards to that
Confiftence we fee it in.

They fay likewife, That the Virgin or Firft ^
Sperm evacuated, is white and tran^arent, and
congeals white,

I myfelf have feen of that white Ambergris 5
but whether that be the Caufe of its Whitraefi,
or that it proceeds from the Sperm of thofe Baa--
teas, I leave to the Judgment of others, 'till I
have an ocular Demonftration, or at leaft aHela-
tion, which I may credit equal to ftich.

I have feen a Male and Female play Three
Days fucceffively in the Fuurno, and conftandy
every Night go out to Sea, and come in again
about Eight or Nine of the Clock the next Morn-
ing, and would lie and fleep an Hour or Two
together, lying in the Water like the Hull of a
Ship turned Bottom up, and it would not require
much Skill or Fains, to ftrike a Harpoon into
either, or both of them ; the Male is not abdve
half the Bignels of the Female.

There hath been formerly a great deal of Am-
bergris found about this Ifland, but very little
now 9 there was a Portuguefe about Thirty Years

[431 1

paft$ ^t Mtas hsmifhed &cm'ipartu^alj for iomd
Crime by him committed^ fi>r a Term of Tear^
vibo got him a little Sloop, or ^lallop, and traded
widi her among the& Hhnds^' and lighted on a
Piece of Amba:gri$ of almoft an increctible Big>-
ntfsj 'mth which he purchafed his Freedom ta
return to Partial again, before the TermiSbr
liis Exile was con^leated ^ and moreover, if xiqr
Relator, ipofce Truth, pmichafed himfelf a ple»*
tifiil Eftate, and iiever after went to Seaj the
Man's Name was John Cameira^ and tifie Rock
near to which he found it, whkh was between
die Two little Iflands, is, at prelent calkxi fay
bis Name by die Natives, as well as I^ the

This Ifland of St Jobn\ hath feveral Bays, or
Roads, where a Ship niay anchoif ; but d^ nrin-
cipal, and, ^indeed, the beft ab6ut all die I^d,
h the Fuurnoy which, in their Tongue, fignifies
an OvcHy or Cave ; occaiioned either by die feve-
ral Caves thereabouts, or elfe becaufe the Harboor
Is a dole Bay, or Cave ; for, indeed, if you hale
in near the Rock called the Kaay, which is a very
good Key, having Water enough for a FiriURatle
Man of War to hale along Side of it, you wHl
lie Land-lock'd for all Winds ^ neither is there
any Wind that blows in there, except from tfic
South-by-Eaft to the South-by-Weft, which
heaves a Sea into the Bay, and maijes it very well
deferve the Name of a Harbour.

It's a little difficult to find, for one that hevcr
was in it 3 but I will endeavour to give as good

Direftions for that Purpofe as I can. When

you are about the North End ofFogOj or St. PW-
lip\ and bound for Brava^ or St. John\ if it be
any thing clear, you will then fee the lilatnd of
St. Johns 'y but if it ihould be hazy, as often-'
times it is, ft^er away North-by-Weft, if you be

Hcvdiio

1 4n 1

\cittiin Two Leagues off St. Pbilip^s^ and accord**
ing as your Offing is more or leis, order your
Courfe 5 with that Offing, that Courfe will bring
you fair for the little Iflands^ the Eaftermoft hav-
ing a Bluff Honimock on the South End, the
Weftermoft of the little Iflands having a peeked
Homm6ck 3 Run direftly for the Eaftermoft of the
little Iflands, giving the North End of it an in-
different good Birth, and fb run down along it
at about a Mile diftant, 'till you are abreaft of
the Bluff Hommock, on the South End of it,
then ftcer diredUy for the North-Eaft Point of the
Ifland of St. Jobftj which is a low flat Point,
which give a Birth to, of about hatf a Mile,
'till you are fliot ta the Southward of it, then
hale in along fliore, and run down within a large
Cable's Length of the Rocks, 'till you come
abreaft of a Cave, and then you will fee a low
Point of a Rock (hooting out a little Way from
the high Land, about a Quarter of a Mile, or
lefs, a Head of you : About that Point is the
Fuurno ; give that Point a Birth of Ibmething
better than half a Cable, but not much more^
for fear of not fetching into the Bay, which turns
up like an Elbow, ^nd you may anchor where
you pleafe ^ but neareft on the Eaft Side is
beft.

If you have a Mind to moof, 'tis beft done
with a Faft alhore, and not Swing, but have a
finall Hawfer alhore from the Stern to the North-
ward, where you Will lie iheltered like (as the
Name denotes, n)iz?) an (yven. Note^ To come
from the Eaftward, to run for the Ifland of Stw
John^ you muft be lure not to run about the
South End of St. Philip's , for then, with an ordi-
nary Trade Wind, you cannot fetch the Fuurno^
nor hardly any Part of the Ifland.

P i iSadeTddi

C 434 3

Faciend de Agoa^ is a Bay lying on the ISforth-
Weft Side of the Ifland, and is a fhingly Beach ;
it is eafily known by the Banana Trees in the
Valley, which is the only Valley of that Fruit
that is vifible from the Sea : You may anchor
near the Middle of the Beach, nigher the North
Side, where you will have clean Ground in Eight,
Nine, and Ten Fathom Water, and a firefli run-
ning Water almoft down to the Beach.

Farther down to Leeward, on die South-Weft

Side of the Ifland, about a finooth low Point,

but rifing high fuddenly, is the Ferrier Bajj it

makes, as it were. Two Bays, by a high Bluff

Rock in the Middle, dividing the Beach in Two,

which, at a Diftance,, looks like Shingle, but is

large pebble Stones. This is a fair Bay, and

finooth Landing-Place, with a large Pool, Lake,

or Balbn of frefh Water, behind the South-£aft-

crmoft Beach, which is a! ways fed by the Water

running doxkn from the Mountains, through the

Vallev to it ; this Bav is all over clean Grounds

in lome Places Sand, bur moftl^' a Sort of a tou£h.

laffCX-v-e, CT Clay, and commonly the Sea rjis

finooth on the Beach ; there is a Kaay, or Roci,

on the Xorth-\Veft Side, to which you mav pa

the Boar, and wo'jjd be a good Riding-Place, "were

it nor tor the lb"ong Flaws which come down the

Vaiie^s ; which, when it blows any thing of a

^jle,' thcrfe Flaws are prodigious \iolent, imo-

moth, that a Ship cannot turn into it, and ctten-

uofSy when at an Anchor, may be forced o •'

^ I gave you an Inftance before, in the P-Z

S:/?, who left his Anchor and Water Coic" be-
d hun, and could not beat in again.

Y^ evf • 'C' ^^ y''"'"''y- ^^^ reft of the
^ear, except m the rainy and Ihiftina Wind Sea

fon, which then is not ik Riding S, ^i IS^

which

N

f 435 3

which lies open to the Sduth-Eaft^ South, and
South-Weft Winds, which bring in a great Sea,
and would put any Ship afliore, that fhould be
caught here in any of thofe Winds, when ftrong j
but elfe, as I faid, it's good riding here, and you
have, in fine Weather, efpecially in the Months
of March^ Aprils and Mdy^ a Southerly Breeze
from the Sea in the Evening, but never, in thofe
Months, to raife any Sea ; and all the Night, and
""till Ten or Eleven in the Forenoon, an Off-lhore
Wind. •

This IS the Road moft ufed by Shipping, be*
caufe very few are acquainted with the Fuurno.

There are other Bays, as Scio^ which is a fair
landy Bay, but ^tis difficult to come down the
Rocks to itj neither is there any Water ^ likewife
the Salt Point Bay^ where I loft my Sloop ^ but
the i*eft are fb infignificant, that I (hall omit giving
any farther Defcription of them.

In the Leewardmoft of the little Iflands, about
the South- Weft End, there is a little Cove, where
^ finall V§(Iel might lie very well s there are, in-*
deed, Ibme great Stones or Rocks in it, but
you may fee the Bottom, as you may in moft
Places about thefe Iflands, in 7,8,9,10, or 12
Fathom Water 5 and you have Room enough in
that Cove, to moor, and fwing clear of thofe
Stones ^ and thus much for a Defcription of St.
Johfis.

I (hall next take the Ifland of St. Nicholas in my
^ Way, as being the Windwardmoft of thofe Iflands
yet undefcribed*

Viz th^

-t* •*

C4?« ]

,«t M. A A A ^. ^> ^ £k "^

The IJland of St. NICHOLAS,

IS the longeft of all the Cape de Verd lilands,
except St. Jago ^ and its Port Paragbefi lies
from 'Pcilmcra in the Ifle of Sal^ Weft-Southerly
about 30 Leagues, and in North Latitude i6<>-
45*5 and Weft Longitude from the Cape de Verd
06^-52', and is a fruitful Ifland for M^z, and
the beft Felhoon on all the Cape de Verd Iftands^^
both white and black ^ as likewife Flantax^es, Ba-
nanas, Pompion, Water Musk-Melcxi^ Lemons^
Limes, and Oranges, fweet and four ; they have
fome Sugar- Canes, but not many, of which they
make Molofles j they have Vineyards, of which
they make a tartilh Wine, and, in a good Vin-
tage, commonly 60 or 70 Pipes. I came to know
the Quantity, by the Tythe paid the Prieft. It
is oftentimes fold at 3/. or j/. loj. per Pipe;
but there is hardly any to be got by Cbrifiraas ;
and the Time of their Vintage is June and

U lu\* had a great Plenty of Goats, Hogs, and
Fo»\v!s, bct'oro the late Famine, which although it
did not hold there fo long as on fome of the other
Ilsinds, being but three Years, yet, while it laft-
cd, was feverer than in any of the others , for
being an Illand of little Trade, affording no Com-
modity for Foreigners, but Affes, which are like-
wife common to the other Iflands, they feldom
had above one or t^o Ships in a Year ^ and thofe
Animals not being in fo much Requeft in the
IJ'c^ Indies^ as ufual, they fometimes have not

bad

C 437 ]

had a Ship once in two Years, which has necefli-f
tated them to be more induftrious than any of
their Neighbours ^ for they can, and do make
G)tton Clolhs as fafhionable as our common Coun-
try Tailors, and will make Buttons to imitate al-
moft any Pattern you IDbew them : They knit
Cotton Stockings, tan Goat and Cow Hides, and
make tolerable Shoes ; and their Women by far
are the moft houfewifely and ingenious with their
Needles, of any of the Iflands ; and fhe that
does not appear with a wrought Coif, like thofe
afore defcrib'd wore by the Jfiona vift Women, is
look'd upon as an idle Perfbn : They are alfo
more modeft, never appearing out of their Houles,
nor within, before Strangers bare ; which at St.
yobn^s is common y and, except when they are
out a planting, or weeding, or gathering in their
Harveft, they are always at work with their
Needles, or Ipinning, if they have any Cotton^
which now is fcarce ; for that Drought deftroy'd
that Commodity here, as it did that of all their
Neighbours of the Cape de Verd Iflands, Bona njifi
only excepted.

They make the beft Cloths and Cotton Quilts
of all the Iflands , but they are too good for the
Guinea Trade, but do well for that of Brafil^ for
which the Portuguefe were wont to touch there.

It ufed to abound moft with wild Goats, as
well as Cov/s, which all belonged to the Lord Pro-
prietor, who was the old.Marquels Des Minhas ;
but fmce his Death, the King hath realTum'd it
into his own Hands, as he has alfb St. Lucia and
St. Vincent^ which, with St. Antonio^ all belonged
to that Marquis, the latter only being his Here-
ditary Eftate, and not held at the Pleafure of the
King : And this Nobleman ufed every Year to
fend a Ship '£>r the Goatskins and Hides, which

E f 3 NK^Si

[4?n

was all the Profit he had out of thofe IQandSy ex*

cept St. Antonio s.

The Iflands of St. Lucia and St. Vincent being
uninhabited^ are reckoned dependant* upon that
of St. Nicbohs^ the Governor whereof has told
jne. That he had ordinafily fhipp*d ofiF for Portu^
gal^ as a Year's Produftion, without diminifhing
the Stock, (for that is their Rule, only to kill the
Number they think the Stock increafes yearly)
zooo Goatskins from thofe Three Iflands, and
oftentimes upwards of loo Hides from &i. Nicb<h
las only, the other two Iflands having no Cows
on them ^ and thefe 2000 were all the Skins of
He- Goats, the She being the Perquifite of the
Steward or Governor, (as they call him) as well
as all the Flefh of the Cows and Goats, who has
Power to give or fell it, as he pleafes.

But this was before the Famine had diminifh'd
the Stock, for fmce that, the People firft eat their
own Hogs, and tame Goats, and after deftroyM
the Proprietor's Stock qf C-ows, and wild Goats j
\o that when I was laft upon this Ifland, there
were but forty Head of great Cattle, and the
Stock of wild Goats was lb diminifli'd, that the
prctcMit Governor told me, it would not be worth
while tv^ lend a Sh'p for tlic Skins for three Year^
tv> eanu\

This liland d?d once very much abound with
Dragon Trees, the Gu'm or Juice of which run-
ning out, when c::r ..l- :» proper Sealbn, yields the
Cju:n call':! j..\.;i^;//.c Draconis^ which is very well
known to rrui^giils, and ufed in the Medicinal
Arc : 'ihcy have a ^Vay of cutting off the
Braiichco at a proper Seaibn, when the Gum or
Sap rues, and boiling them in Water, from which
they have an Artifice to lepnrate the Gum, but
'tis not n'gh fo clear, nor, I believe, fo good as
the other : But feme tiuie ago, when Captain

C 459 ]

Avery^ the Pirat^, touchM here, the Inhabitants
ibme way dilgufted him fb, that he burnt all their
Town, which is the moft populous, as well as
compafteft, of any on all the Iflands, and al-
though not built {6 large, nor the Walls cemented
with Lime-Mortar, as the Houfes at the City of
jSt. Jago are, rior covered, not even the Church,
with any thing but Grafs Thatch ; yet for Num-
ber of Houfes, as well as regular Streets, it ra*-
ther exceeds that City ; and they being, more-
over, the only People that build and ufe Boats in
thoijp Iflands, v/hich deflroyM moft of their wild
Fig^rees, (the only Wood fit for that Ufe) thev
were forc'd to cut down the Dragon Tree, which
is a loofe grained Wood, and hollow in the Mid-
dle, going tapering upwards, fbmething like the
Bore of a Pump ^ and with thefe Trees they
roofed their Houfes again, and moft of them hav-
ing Chambers, they floored them with the Boards
made of this Wood ; fb that now it is fb fcarce,
that I queftion whether there be 20 or 30 Pounds
of that Gum made yearly on that Iflaitd, and a
great deal of that is adulterated too.

They have Horfes now, which were brought
over to this Mland from Bona Vtft about fourteen
Years fince, by one Captain KoUo^ a Frenchman ;
fince which Time they have increased fb, that
now they can fupply a Ship with a Cargo of
them.

I carry 'd over to it in my Boat a yearling
Heifer, from Bona Vifta^ which Captain Manuel
Domingo gave me to kill on Board for Food, and
would have given it to my Landlord Nicholau
Gonfal'vo^ but he being a Relation of the former
Governor, between whom, and the prefent Go-
vernor, there is but an outfide Friendftiip, I found
he would not let him keep it, pretending there
was no Liberty given for any body to fe.^^'^ C^^^-,

:: keep

_ -^ bctore, in tht Fn-

:r •-•" St.NicbclasJ v%h:jh

--:' . or what ellb t-ev

— - — «± - • ' '

r '.'■ ' -'. ':.--'. '-.: ::. r ii^r came with ?r:-
'. ' ■/- - -. . /. J:-.-, -.-ich he broj![i;hr rr:m
^''- • vt". r.':-. . :':: Crr.on Clorhs firfr, l'.:
K^ =:'- ?'.: I.: -.:.-- i.. -r :".:'-i:i: fit, and thi-
-' '. . -: :\. r\: - .:-..-£ z-: rricv Money : which
f ':,• ^ '5v :: , .:.: f..r: :: rhe Coin of this

'J r.': lU^i.A ;: <: prefer: ffr:':e, ar.d they begin
?'. .n'i'.ff': rii^rir .^itoc!-.? or' Ho^'^ aiid Fowls apace,
j«ifof/ji/r fi, flir,!: f-.v FamiJies but have Store of
iljof' Aniur-ik ; and it :> ftrangc to fce^ how
i)iiirkly rjiry fi'ivc incrcas'd thcni : I qiieftion, in

lucii

C 441 3

fuch a Conditian, whether our Politicks in EuropQ
could, or at leaft would, have found out fuch a
Method of univerfally ftocking one another, with^
out either giving or felling, and that out of not
above ten Hogs, and not many more Fowls, and
not half the Quantity of tame Goats , fo that now,
very few, if any, but what have Hogs, and a
great many of them Fowls, and, I believe, could
furnifh aVeflel with a Cargo of live Hogs on
reafbnable Terms.

This Ifland is moftly high Land, the higheft
being a flat Sugar-Loaf-like Mountain, I mean a
rounding, not a fharp pointed Peek : It lies a
pretty way up in the Land towards the Weft
End. There is no good nor fafe Road on this
Ifland in the fliifting Wind Seafbn ^ but when the
true Trade Wind is fettled, there are three or
four indifferent ones : That which is neareft the
Town is Paraghefi^ where is a Bay where you
may ride off fingle, or moor'd, the Wind being
always offwards from the Shore ; or you may
hale into the Cove of Paraghefi^ and ni^oor be-?
tween four.

In the Cod of the Bight is the Road of Porto
Lappa y this you can't miis finding, becaufe it is
in the very Cod of the Great Eighty on the South
Side of the Ifland : This Road is foul Ground,
and feveral Anchors have been loffc there by the
tables being cut with the Rocks.

To the Eaflward of Porto Lappa^ about half
Way between that and the Eaft Point of the
Ifland, is the Road of Currifal^ where is a River
of frefti Water clofe to the ^each : The beft An-j
choring is to the Eafl^ard of the Beach, almoft
fliut in j then you are abreaft of Petra de Loomay
a funk flat Rock, over which the Sea always
breaks, which, I fuppofe, gave it the Name of
the F/ry Kjocky which that Name imports -^ b\$t,

[ 44i ]

as diefe mentioned Roads are not commonly
jmown, cfpccially Paragbefi and Currifal, and
diere being nothing fo remarkable on the Land^
for a Stranger to be able, by any Defcription^ to
find them, which is the Redbn k> few uie them ^
yet die Coaft is fo clean, that a Man may run
along from the £aft Point, till within half a
League of the South-Weft Point, within Call o(
the Shore ; and there are always People either on
the Look-out, which they keep all round that Part
of the liland where a Ship may anchor, or a Boat
land, f5rom about the Middle of Olfober^ till the
latter Part of June^ or beginning of July -y the
Turaado Time, they think, being afumcient Se-
curity for them from Enemies without a Look-out ;
or you may fee Filhermen on the Rocks, to whom
you may call, or fend your Boat afliore, and
have a Pilot to any Road you defire^ or you
mav run with an cafy Sail, or lie too a little, to
give thfi People Time to gather down, and then
you may eafily dilcover the Port, by the Con-
courle of People gathered at it.

But the moft generally known Road is ^ena*
f,i!'L which lies en the Weft Side of the Ifland :
The beft Mark lo know it by, is die Natives great
Boats, of which there never fails fbme of them
being haled up afnore tho-e : This is a clean Bay,
and vou mav anchor anv where in or about it to
the Southward, but efpecially to the Northward,
without any Fear of foul Ground.

There is a high BI:iff rocky Pcifit^ which does
not reach down to the Sea-fide by near a Quarter
of a Mile -, between which and the Sea, ir6 low,
ftony, gra\-elly, and, in Ibme Places, /Kingly
Ground, the Shore being a pebbly Beach : Oil
each Side this Bluff-Point is a deep Gully, cut
^•erj' deep by the violent falling of the Waters in
the rainy Tuats ^ out oC vihich Gullies or Vallies

. C 445 ]

come violent Flaws or Gufts of Wind, when any
thing of a hard Gale blows, and it i^ then very
0SiCvi% to turn up into this Bay ; but to avQid
the Flaws of Wind coming out of thefe ValHes,
you muft anchor right againft the Bluff-Pbint^
which you may do in what Depth of Water you
pleafe, from fixtcen to thyee or four Fathom^ and
then you will lie between the Gufts of thofe Tal-
lies, which will eoo^e, as I have feen ^iem, with foch
Violence, that they raife the Water, as it were, all
of a Smoke ; and in the Middle, between them,
under the Lee of the afore-qaentionM Kluff'-Pointj
you may lie and ride very cafy, ki Comparifbn of
what you would do by riding open to either of
thole deep Vallies or Gullies.

There is a Bank of Sand lies erofs the Mouth
of this Bay, on which is about ten Fathom, with-
in it is twelve, thirteen, and fourteen Fathom
Water, and Ibft Ground, and then it Ihoals
gradually to the Shore, till you are in four pr five
Fathom, where you have again Sand to the pebbfjr
Beach.

There is good Watering here, by digging a
Well almoft any where in the low Land, unjefi
the rainy Seafbn hath fail'd ; but at all Times you
may water there, in a Valley about half a Mile
from the Sea, from which the Natives will brii^
it down on Afles for a Trifle.

From this Road you may fee, when the Ait 1$
ferene, all the Leeward Iflamfe; but eife you can
fee none but the Ijle of Dogs^ or Jfle Cbaon^ and
not them, if it be any thing hazy.<

Thefe People fpeak the beft Portuguefe^ and
are the exadteft Romans of all the Cape de Verd ^
Iflands, not excepting St. Jago^ and yet they are
all black, or Copper-colour'd, with frizzled Hair,
except a few of the Frmb Race^ left there by

* I 444 ]

the Pirate Maret^hwin^ and three old Portuguefe
wd two or three old Portuguefe Women.

As they are in their Language moft like the
Portuguefej fe are they like the vulgar Sort of
that Nation, very Thieves to Strai^rs: And^
where they take an Antipathy, very Blood-thirfty,
being very dextirous ^t their Kjiives.

Before the Famine, they were computed to be
above aoop Souls, but now they are not above 13
or 1400 : They have moftly a European Portu--
gjuefe Padre, and it is as much as he can do, fbme-
tinoucs, to manage them ; for notwithftanding they
profeis the fimple Romijb Religion, unmingied
with FaganifiD, qr j^ny other Superftition, as moft
c£ the reft are, not excepting St. Jago ^ yet
are they {o headftrong and refblute, as I never
law any where pradis'd by thofe of that Pro-
feffion.
• I'here are the fame Sorts of Sands and Stones
here as at St. Johns ; and here the Natives have
a Tradition, that there is Silver or Gold in them,
but can't tell how to extraft it ; however, it is
in few here, but at St. Johns almoft every
where.

On this Ifland is alio good Nitre, as alio that
Beur (Tore^ mentioned in my Defer iption of St.
y^go : There is alfb of it at St. yohnh^ but not
to much, though altogether as glittering, and of
a golden AfpeA 5 but at St. Nicholas lefs than
either, and alfo lefs glittering.

^be.

C 545 1

The Ifland o/CHAONj

THE Ifland, or rather Rock Chaon^ lie^
from ^erra-fall Weft-Northerly about three
Leagues, to which the St: Nicholas Men go td
fi(h with their Boats , between which, and Jfle
Branca^ is all foul Ground.

^

Ifle BRANCA

Is a high fteep Rock, lying in Length Eaft-
Soudi-Eaft and Weft-North-Weft, about two'
or three Mile$. The St Nicbolas'TAtn come here
alfo to fifti, and under the South Side is a Place
where they can ride with their Boats ; but if it
biowsj, there come ftrong Flaws down the Rock,
that they care leaft for fiftiing thcr^^ of ariy or
the Rocks or Iflands, unlefs it be very moderate
Weather , tho* there is extraordinary filhing about
this Ifland. There is on the South Side, a Vein
of white Rock runs under the high dark rocky
Land, which appears, at a Diflance, like white
Sand Hills, from whence, I believe, it took the
Name of Ilha Branca^ or White Ifland, It is
brbken Ground between IJle Branca and St. Luciay
with leveral Rocks, fbme under, and fbme above
Water y yet a Ship may pafs through fife cwssx^

[440

fay keeping A good Look-out ; tho* I wouJd not
advHe any body to it, unlefi acquainted with die
Uanda, or oUtg^d by Neceffi^. .

This Ifland hath what none other of the Cape
d0 Verd Iflands produces, viz. Guana's, a Creature
very like in Shape to a lizardrTbq^ are weU
known hi the If^ Mies j and there are ibme on
Ifle of BrflHca^ abtfve a Yard in Length.

J^.LdCIA

Is about three or Ibur Le^ues Welt-Nofth«
Weft fronf the North-Wdt Part of St. JV?^
cbolas : There is a good clean findy Bay on the
South-Weft Side, and another on the South-Eaft
Side ; but here are no Inhabitants, nor Water for
a Ship, nor likewife at JfleCbam and Branca^
tilde having no Cattle 9 but St. Lucia hath Goat^
and Ailes* .

The Channel between St. Lucia and St. Vi$ieent
is very foul, aiui fi> full of Rocks, that it's icarce
iaie to venture through, and not adyifeable to at-^
tempt it, unlefi ferc'd by NecefHty.

St. VIN-

I

^

[ 447 3

^m^Mjf^mi

St. VINCENT,

IS alfb uninhabited : On the North-Eaft Side
it's low and fandy, but the reft moftly high
Land, with £indy Bays, and ieveral Roa[ds to
anchor at : The chief are, firft, Babia des Gbatty
which lies on the North Side ; it goes in between
two low £andy Points, and the Water is fo fmooth
within, that you may lay a Veflel afhore without
any fear of Damage : It's very difficult to come
out with a Trade Wind, which blows right in the
Bay, or rather finall Gulf, which lies in North*
Eaft, for which Reafbn no Ships go in there : But
the St. Nicbolas-McTiy when they come here to
catch Turtle, ufe it, it being fecure for their Boats,
and from thence they row out, taking the Oppor-
tunity of a Morning Calm.

On the North-Weft Side, right againft St. An-»
tonia^ is P^rto Grande^ a fair large fandy clean
Bay, up in the North-Eaft Bigbt ; wherein is the-
beft Riding, for there you may ride all Winds in
fix or feven Fathom Water. You may anchor any
where in the Bay, for it's all over clean fandy
Ground ^ and. it is cafily known by a high Rock^
like a Tower, off the Bay, and clean all round.
You may go on either Side of it ^ but if you are
defign d for the great Bay, you had beft go to
Windward of it, leaving it on the Starboard Side,
that you may fetch the better up into the Bay : If
it blows a Gale of Wind,paffing in under the high
Land, you will have very hard Flaws of Wind ;
but when fliot into the Bay, clear of the hi^Vv

;^8 1

^ : T-^1 then have (teady Gales.

.. a-: both Wood and Water, and

.. . tG will take the Fains to /hoot

-=. South-Weft Point is another Bay or

_ i Porto St. PedrCy which is a clean Bay,

-u say anchor in wliat Depth you pleafe

w- Jround J but when it blows, there come

^u. ''j:mi down the Valley, which makes it hard

. ^jr^ rrcre, unlefi in moderate Weather.

>i r:!? IiZand is the moft Turtle and Fifli
.iiiir:^ of anv cf the C:te de Verd Illands. ex-
jcTC ±e Itk ct Jl:/. Here is alfb good Store of
Jtjiiii i::c A::«fs, 2n6. almolt as great Plentv of
Vrr; xs i: uie lilir.d ct Sr. ^j/vj ^ but there is
x^rr^ :£ x ijsz frfLs or nurlne Salt in the Nitre
^T 5c -".-■; *. rixn Li :hi: o£ Si. ycbi: : For I
r.^- - ~ -^ -'—-" 7 -"- X^rre of Si. fcbn burning;
c.iiin i. ..ly. iMjcr: r.iir :hs Sea-fide, but that at
S: 7" ..;•.: il.rivi "fiv'.i-.p frme fixt Salt behind,
r>.?" ir. :":--: rin :f :he lilind it left lels fixt Sale
tr.i:: ."i ::r.;r Virzs. I fr.iil r.exr pals to give Ibme

^-.. ._ --JL I. --- .-*♦ V - -<;■":•• ■-

^1

T ':■ Kj:-^ .^ i^/. a X to K I O

T 1 F. 5 ::: I..i:.r-ie i-'-iq' Xorth, and in S'-z'
I . c.': 1. ^T'c :--.'.: iror-i :he C.:Te de Vtrd^ and
:> ..:r. the V. i/:crr..:i and Xonhemioft of all
: '. .r- . . . '^ *.: !:'^::d>. It'i a very high Illand,
iv c .::-"• t .i::y :h.n^. i-f-rior to St. Philip's
:r. :r...: rr.:^:/: . .:n.i. jonfic^ring :he high Aloun-
tx.:":>» or:i " cw \ :-.cv<.i: cor.:j,:ns as much Ground

or

C 449 ]

6r rather Rocks, as St..Jagd; and iiath atun-
dance of running Brooks oF frefti Waterj which
hiake the Yallies, through which they run/ as
fertile' a^ ariy of the C^p^ d& Verd Illandsj^ for^
Maiz, FefHobnj Bananas, Plantanes, Potatoes,
Mannd'yoke^, Porapions, Watfer ^nd Mu$k-Me*
Ion, Ofarlges, Lemons, Limes, Guava's, ^c.
and the greateft Plenty of Wine, tho' the ordi-
narieft, and, to make amends for that tdo, the
cheapeft of all the Ifland?.

They have AfTes and Hogs, Which are very
large, as well ais Plenty of them, a large Stock
bf Cows, and the Mountains are well replenllh'd
with wild Goats, both which belong to the Majr-
quis dai Minbas^ lately made Marquis de Gho-^^e.

This Ifland is alio in the Vallies very wdody j
and here the Beur d\re is gathered, alhd ai Quan- ♦
tity fent over, as often as a Ship comes there foe
the Skins and Hides from Por^tugal^ and is put on
Board upon the Marqui^s Account ; but what
Ufe it's apply 'd to in PbHugal^ I could not cer-?
tainly 'learn.

Here is found on one of the Mourtt^iiis a tranft f
parent Stone, callM, by the Natives, ^opaz ; biit
whether it be the true ^opaZy or no, I canY tell^
as being ilo Llpidary.

Here is aHo Sangms DraconiSy or the Gum #
Dragons Bloody product in great Quantities, the
which, as well as the Stones, £^f . above menti-
oned, a:s alfb all the Ambergrife founcf ab6;ut the
Ifland, belbngs to the Lord of the Soil ^ for
whom it is gathef*d, and a great Penalty laid up-
on thofe w'ho conceal, and aoii't immediately de-
liver it to the Gdvefrior : Yet it's no hard Matter
for any one, that knoSvs how to manaige Matiw^
provided he is Mafter of the Language, to pro-
cure any thing the Ifland produces at an eafy

lUtOw

C 450 ]

The Natives here are almoft as innocent and
good-temper'd, for the Generality, as die Natives
of St. Jcbn.

There is, as the Report goes, a Silver Mine
on this Ifland ; but the Marquis won't • open it,
for fear the* King of Portugal (hould feize upon
It : And, ^ti% faid, that a certain Man extraded
ib much Gold there on a certain Mountain, where
he had liv'd ibme time as a Hermit, chat one Afi
was not fuflScient to cany it down to the Port
where the Ship lay.

There is Abundance of Indigo grows here, and
ievcral great Plantations are incWd, wall^ in,
and cultivated, on the Account, and tor the Ufe
of the Marquis ; and there is a European Fortu*
rj^f/^, who is the Manager, who feparates the
Tindure, which is lent Home, when the Ship
comes from Portugal by Order of the Marquis,
to colled for him the Profits of the Iflands be-
longing to him. The, Indigo Shrub grows fome-
thing like Broom, but not lb large, having finall
pale green Leaves, fbmething refembling Box
Leaves in Form, which are very juicy. Thefe
Leaves they ftrip off in Oclcher or November^ of
which they make their Indigo, by pounding the
Leaves to a Pap, and making it tHtn into Cakes
or Balls, and, as it dries, it changes from Green
to a dark Blue.

There are alfo Cotton Plantations cultivated,
and Cloths made for the Marquis ; for, as I told
you before, this Ifland is the Hereditary Eftate
of that Nobleman. The Cotton Shrub grows
about the Bignels of a Role-Bufh, but fpreads
more : The Leaves are of a Grals-Green, fbme-
thing like the Leaves of Spinage, but broader,
and fmooth : The Flowers are of a pale Yelloii' j
which, after they blow away, are fuccceded by
round Pods, wherein the Cotton is inclosed, com-

ixvonly

t 4V 1

monly in three Cells, wherein the Seeds alio are
contain'd, which are Black, being of an oval
Form, about the Bignefi of French Beans.

They make this Ifland a Store-houfe, as it wer^
for Slaves , and, I ftppofe, when the Portugue/e
had the Spanijb Slaving Trade, the then Marquis
caused a Cargo of Negroes to be brought from
Guinea J and placed there ; who were fiipply'd, at
hfs Charge, till they had put tbemfelves into a
Condition to maintain themfelves by Planting,
^c. which they loon learned from the free Blacks
inhabiting there before , and thefe have increased
very faft, notwithftanding there have been many
of them tranlported, both to Portugal and Brafil
whenever the Marquifles have thought fit to or-
der it : Thefe Slayes have Plantations, Houfcs,
Wives, 6^r. as the free Blacks have ; and fbme
of the beft Places are cultivated by them for Cot-
ton, Indigo, Ss. which are all wrought by thofe
Slaves, and manag'4 by a* Steward placed there
by the Marquis, who is generally a European
Portuguefe^ and has the Title of Capiteen More.

There is computed to be Two thouland Five
hundred Souls on this Ifland, four Fifths of which
Number is made up by the Slaves; They arc
divided into two Parties, and very often Diffe-
rences happen between them, fbmetimes to the
fliedding ot Blood ; the free Blacks valuing them-
fclves for their Freedom, and the Slaves telling
them, they are only Tenants at Will, and that
tliey are worfe than they, as being liable to be
tArn'd off* the Ifland whenever the Marquis
pleafes, without knowing where to go, and
virill therefore be neceflitated to yield themfelves
Slaves whenever the Marquis pleafes, &c. And
whenever it comes to Blov/s, the Slaves being the
ftronger, the free Blacks generally come off^ with
the worft j and it would be ftill wotfe &t ^^xa.^

G a a "4

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[453 3

There is, about half a League to the North*
.ward of the Chapel, a little Bay or G)ve5 call'd
RJvera des Irapbay where a BcJat may lie ^ and
has a very good Key. to land or take in any thing
at, the Water being finooth, and it afibrding a
good Shelter from the Wind by the North-Eaft
Point : There is alfo a Run of frcfh Water, and
Wood enough, in the Valley.

You may fee a Prolpeft of that, and the reft
of the Roads, as well as the Shape of the feveral
Iflands, in the Draughts here annexed ^ which ^
although they are not altogether fb exaft and cu-
rious as I could have wifti'd ft em, by Reaibn of
the want of Conveniencies, and neceflary Uten^
fils, yet, ib &r I can affirm, as to the moft mate-
rial Parts, they may be intirely depended upon«
And I can J&rther afliire the Reader, that I have
delivered no Falfity, either in the Hiftory of my-
felf, or in my Defcription of thofe People or
Iflands. What I relate of my own Obfervation^
is certain Matter of Fad, and what I had from
others, I endeavour'd to procure it in the exadeft
and full eft Manner that I could. I could lay a
great deal more of the Cotton Manufadhire ; and
am certain, that it's poffible to procure Quantities
of Barra/oolsy or Guinea-trading Cloths for a
Trifle, as well a$ all Sorts of Provifions for Slav-
ing ; which, as it would be more agreeable, as
being a more natural Food for diofe Africans^ lb
I am certain it would come much cheaper than as
it is uliially purchafed ^ but how fer, or whether
it would be any ways hurtful to the Trade of thole
Kind of Provifions bought here for the Slaves, I
muft leave thole who are concern^ in it to deter-
mine, as being the beft Judges.

I could alio much inlarge on the Nitre produced
in Ibme of thefe Iflands j but I have faid fuffi-
pent to let the World know, vihax fat lioa m^^ *

[ 454 D

Fvt, was unknofwn co Europe before i I fay, 6x
the mod Fart, bccauie ibroe Years paft, it was
knouTi in Portugal^ that there was Nitre in the
liland of Sl Vtucem^ and diey gathered a confi-^
dcribie Quant'ty of the Salt of it, which was
felt to Pcrcuf^ji: But the Gathering of it, was
proiccuted no £irdier fince, the Report going,
1 hit it vk-as not good Nitre, the greateft Part of
it beins of the Nature of the Marine Salt : Which
might very well be ; for where they got this Salt^
I tried -t,'and there was inch a (mail Quantity of
inr^ummable Nitre mixed with it, that it would but
▼ery faintly kindle, and not one eighth Part bum,
or dy away, the red being a fixed Salt, and in
Talle^ nothing didering from the conmion Marine,
or Sci Salt; whereas, in other Places on the
£LTie Itland, there would not remain above one
half, iome one third, feme one quarter, and Ibme
le^\ of tixcd inflammable Salt : But at St. Johns
Inand« it was moftly {o volatile, that it would all
fi\- away^ except near the Sea ; the Reaibns of
which, I muft leave to the philofophical Searchers
of Nature to dik*o\Tr, and puriue die Chain of
my Relations ; the hft Link whereof, is to fay
lomf thing of the CurreVits^ and Seafons^ and then
I l>a!l conclude.

The Sea about thefe Iflands, keeps a regular
Influx and Reflux ; ebbing Six Hours odd Minutes,
and flowing the fame Quantit)^ of Time ; flowing
higher, and ebbing lower, the ilune as in Europe^
or other Parts, which we commonly call Spring-
Tides ; and this about, or rather fbme Time after
the Conjundion and Oppofirion of the Sun and
Moon, unlels this Regularity be altered by the
Strength of (hifting Wind:*, £/r. which is com-
mon in other Parts alfb, though more eafily and
frequently obfm^ble here : But let the Weather
be never fo ca\m^ ^tx. ^^ Sea. runs more high

C 455 ]

ag^inft the Rocks, and even in the Bays, about
the Full aind Ch^ge of the Moon, than when
thefe Two Planets are in or near a fijuare Afpeft.
I have feen at the Squatty and in a ftrong Gale
of Wind, which caufed a great Sea to run in the
Channel between St. Philip's and St. John s^ yet
in the Fuumo the Sea has been very finooth, fb
that you might have laid a Boat to the Beach
without hurting her s and I have obferved, near
the Full and Change, when, perhaps, it had been
calm Three or Four Days before, and the Sea
as Imooth in the Channel aforefaid, as in the
Thames almoft 5 yet the Sea hove up againft the
Shore, that even in the Fuurno^ you could not
put a Boat afliore to the Beach, or Strand, with-
out running a Hazard of filling her with the Sea
fowling and breaking on the Beach ^ though then
you might land fafe enough at the Kaay, yet there
the Waves rife and fell, as if there was a great
Sea run without.

The Flood fets to the North-Eaftward, and the
Ebb to the South- Weft ward, and will let mart
Northerly, Eafterly, Wefterly, or Southerly, y
about theft Iflands, as the Points or Sides of the ^
Iflands, check or turn the Stream, which I have
- ihewn by the Darts about the Ifland of St. Jobn^
which I obferved there, and, as far as I could
find, was the fame at the other Iflands.

There runs a pretty ftrong Tide up and down %
*the Channel between St. Philip* s and St. Jobn^s ^
and likewife between the little Iflands and St.
Jobnh r There alio runs a good Tide, both Ebb
and Flood, between St. Philip* s and St. Jago*^ j.
but not fo ftrong as between St. Philips and
St. Johns.

But the ftron^eft Tides are in the Channels ^
between thofe Iflands lying between St. Nicholas^
and St. Antonio^ eipecially the narrov CVv&xcwa.

[ 450

fceiueen St. LMCia and St. Vincent ^ which, an Spring
Tides, run very ftrong : I never had proper G)nr-
venicncies to try or biow the Swiftnefs of thefc
Tides in a derarminate Part of Time, fince I
iband^ that the Tides generally keep a regular
C^'nirle, which hath been ob(er\'ed but " by very
few-, c\-en of thole that ufe thofe Parts ; but, ac^
cording; to my Judgment, the Tide ieems to run
as fwij^ in the laft mentioned Channels, as it does
in any Pin of the J'bjmes^
^ There are, beiides thcfe afore-mentioned Caufes
of il:ir:ng the general and ordinary Gourle of the
Txie?, another not yet mentioned • namely. The
Cr'r;;#v which commonly let at particular Seafbns,
and although their exa6fc Quantity or Quality^
ii rot certainly found ; vet the Quality is Known
thus far, That a little oefore the Rains, which
fall in J:.'fU'^ J-'% -^^(f'f'?^ and part di Septembery
the Current generally, though not conftantly, fets
to the Xorth-E:ift\^-ard, and then, at a determi-
n.^:e Diftance from the Iflands, the Floods gene-
jallv le: Itrongcr through thofe Channels, or
about the Iibncis, than the Ebbs ; and cbntrary-
\viil% when the Currents let to the South- Weft-
\v:irJ, wliich is generally, though not conftantiy,
in rhe hrrer Part of the Rains, and {omt Time
after, ivc y^rjerrAer^ Decewler^ and Jmuary ^
then the Lee, or South-Weft Currents, are gene-
rally Iwifter than the Windward, or North-Eaft
Currents.

Thele Currents, however, depend on the Sea-
fbns, becaule the)- generally come before, %, and
after, though not exadly in, or at the fame
Time, vet alwavs about that Time.

The like m:iy be laid of the Scj/hfjs ; for it
does not rain; nor docs the Wind fliift exadklv at
the fame Time e\'ery Year j but about the lame
Time, Ibmetimes fooner, fbmetimes later, the

"Natives

C 457 ]

Natives who have the yearlv Experience of it,
expeA the Rains about the latter £nd of June^
with faint Southerly Winds^ which fbmetimes
they have not till the Beginning, Middle, or
latter End of July^ or it may be, not 'till the
Middle of Auguft : In September they have gene-
rally, though not conftantly, Eaft-South-Eaft,
South-Eaft, and South-South-Eaft, ftrong Winds,
with the Rain : In Offober^ South-South- Weft,
South- Weft, and, towards the latter End, Weft-
North-Weft, and North-Weft Winds ; with
Thunder, Lightening, and heavy Rain, and
fbmetimes ftrong Winds, but they ieldom hold
long. Between thefe Rains, and a little before,
you ftiall have Calms, ferene Air, variable light
Breezes, and Airs of Wind ; and at that Seafbn^
a finall Southerly Gale will raife a greater Sea^
than a ftrong Northerly one^ but you are to
note, Thofe light Airs blowing between the rainy
Fits, feldom raife the Sea : In the Month of Nth
vember^ if it rains, it is generally with a frefh, and
fometimes ftrong. Northerly Wind, and generally,
when the Rain is diick and heavy, the Wind is
laid fbon ^ and after that, the Rain beats the Sea
down imooth.

After the rainy Seafbn is over, it's commonly
very hazy, e^ecially by Day, and oftentimes
from the Beginning of November ( if it ceafe to
rain (6 loon) 'till the latter End of January j and
all that Time, it generally blows pretty ftrong,
and far Nordierly, moftlv North-Nort;h-Eaft, and
North-Eaft-by-North ; out February^ March j and
yfjpr/7, moftly North-Eaft-by-North, from thence
to the Rains more Eafterly ^ and as it veers to
the Eaftward, the Wu)d decreafes, and blows
weaker.

C 458 ]

When k blows the ufual Wind to bring the
Rain according to the Seaibn, and blows Itrong
and f jcden, it is then ufually fbon over, and called
a 7rjz\:S: j bnt when it blows violently, wth
Thunder and Lightening ( and generally the
harder ':z b:cv;>, and iuddcner it comes, the KX>ner
\ii over) it's rhen called a ^uniado.

And now I have finilhed my Hiftory of as much
as I though:: would be neceflary or ufeful. It is
my ^Ta:den A\'ork of a publick Nature ; and as
I f.r.d r:!:^ proves acceptable or fer\'iceable, it may
enr^iir^ze me to a Dilcovery of what hath oc-
c::rred to me, in my paft, or future Obferv^ations,
fb far as I co!ice:ve they may be ufeful or delight-
ful to my Countrymen in general, efpecially to
the ^^ei\:!:a::: Adventurers, and the Gentlemen
be:o:i?*n5 to the Sea, in particular : And if the
Rc-Aiicr f.iicsas much Satisfaction in the Readings
as I h.w e taken Painf truly to obferve and colled,
I lliiiil tliink XiV Trouble wcU beftowxd.

N. B. Tie ; rr.V Boy fo often vieutiond in the

/:.'■. j; ;;.^ Siccrs^ }:::c Hies '-^'iib Mr. Galapin^

ti ^cl\:::\]:lft^ iu Monument Yard, and ru-.iy

ic ;v i';-;v.j ::/"-;• tie ^rutb cf 7ugJ: oftbe P.?;'-

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